'  8 


\ 


1»  '  ^  • 


M  FLOWERS  COLLECTIC^Í 


llü^AL  COa>E  OF  HAITÍ* 


THE-Chamber  of  the  Rcpresentatives  of  Communes,  orí 
Ihe  proposition  of  ihe  Presideiit  of  Haíli,  and  having  heard 
ihe  Heport  of  its  Commitlce  of  the  interior,  has  pasocd  the 
six  foUowing  laws,  constituling  the  Rural  Cede  of  Haiti; 

LAW,  No.  I 

ON  THE  GENERAL  ARRANGEMFNTS  RELATIVE  TO 
AGRICULTURE. 

Anide  1.  Agriculturc,  being  the  main  source  of  the  pros- 
perily  of  the  siate,  shall  enjoy  the  special  protection  and  en^ 
couragement  of  the  Civil  and  Military  aulhorilies. 

2.  The  citizens,  of  the  profcssion  of  agriculttire,  cannot  be 
taken  oíF  from  their  pursuits,  except  in  the  cases  pointed  out  by 
law. 

3.  All  the  citizens  being  bound  to  give  their  aid  towards 
supporting  the  state,  either  by  their  services  or  their  industry ; 
those  who  shall  not  be  employed  in  civil  offices,  or  called  outon 
military  services ;  those  who  shall  not  be  engaged  in  any  bu- 
siness  subject  to  the  pütent  ;*  those  who  shall  not  be  employed 
as  working  arlificers,  or  as  domesiic  servanls  ;  those  who  shall 
not  be  employed  in  the  cutting  of  wood  fit  for  exportalion  ; 
and  those,  in  fine,  who  shall  not  be  able  to  show  that  they 
possess  the  means  of  subsistence,  shall  be  bound  to  cultívate 
the  earth. 

4.  Citizens  of  the  agricultural  profession  shall  not  be  at 
liberty  to  quit  the  country,  in  order  to  reside  y\  cities  or  towns, 
without  the  authorizaiion  of  the  Justice  of  Peace  of  the 
Commune  they  wish  to  quit,  and  of  that  of  the  Commune 
where  they  mean  to  fix  ihemselves ;  and  the  Justice  or 
Peace  shall  not  give  his  authorization,  unti'  he  has  assured 
himself  that  the  applicant  is  a  person  of  good  behaviour, 
who  has  correctly  conducted  himself  in  the  cantón  he  desires 
to  quit,  and    that   he  has  the  means  qí   subsistence    in  the 

*  A  tai  80  natnad  impoícd  on  mcrchanís,  ihopkeeperr  tr&de«men.  Ac 


nOUAL    CODt    Of    flAlTI. 


town  where  he  wibhes  to  reside.  AU  who  bhciU  not  con- 
form  to  ihese  rules,  shall  be  considered  and  deall  wilh  as 
vagrants. 

5.  The  children,  of  eilher  sex, -whom  llieir  parents  (them- 
sclves  engaged  in  agriculture)  shall  desirc  to  send  inlo  ihe 
cilies  or  lowns  to  be  apprenticed  or  educated,  ave  not  tobe 
received  either  by  mastcr  workmen,  or  by  leachers  of  public 
or  prívate  schools,  without  a  certifícate  of  the  Justice  of 
Peace,  which  certifícate  shall  be  granted  at  the  request 
either  of  the  proprietor  or  principal  renter  of  the  place,  or 
of  the  oflSccr  of  the  rural  pólice,  or  of  the  fether  or  the 
mother  of  the  child.  Every  contravention  of  this  rule 
shall  subject  to  a  fíne  of  25  dollars,  to  be  paid  by  the 
persou  v/ho  sball  havc  received  the  child  without  authoriza- 
tion. 

6.  R-ecruiting  for  the  army  can  only  take  place  by  order 
of  the  Prcsident,  and  it  sliaíl  not  extend  to  citizens  engaged 
in  agriculture,  unless  the  Chief  of  the  íState,  induced.  by  a 
pressing  danger,  shall  give  orders  to  that  eífect. 

7.  No  shop,  either  wholesale  or  retail,  shall  be  established, 
and  no  commerce  in  the  produce  of  the  island  shall  be  carried 
on  in  the  country  parts  on  any  pretext  whatsoever.  From 
this  rule  are  excepted  raw  sugars  delivered  to  the  refíneries,. 
and  molasses  to  the  distillcries,  and  cotton  in  ihc  seed  when 
sent  to  the  mili  to  be  ginned. 

8.  Nevertheless  ihe  patented  travelling  pedlers,  residing 
in,  and  going  from,  cities  or  towns,  niay,  while  travelling 
over  the  country,  sell  provisions,  foreign  merchandize,  and 
hardware.* 

9.  The  houses  or  cottagcs  which  prívate  persons  have 
already  erected  interior  of  the  (H:>m muñes,  in  situations  where 
there  is  no  regular  townshíp,  but  merely  a  collection  of  cottages^ 
whethcr  for  their  ovvn  accommodation  or  to  Ict  to  others,  shall 
be  subject  to  the  same  tax,  on  the  valué  of  the  rent  of  those 
houses,  which  is  payable  in  cilies  and  towns.  In  future, 
howevcr,  no  coltage  shall  be  erected  in  the  country,  wheve 
there  is  no  recogniscd  townshíp,  except  wlicn  conncclcd  with 
a  rurrd  cstablishment. 

10.  No  proprietor  of  land  bordering  on  the  sea  shall  pos- 
sess  boals  or  vessels   except  for  the  transport  of  his  produce 

•  The  artidcs  7  and  8  seem  framrJ  in  the  absurd  spint  of  many  of  our  own 
oíd  laws.  They  are  probaWy  intended  to  secure  the  revenuc  by  confining  the 
«alo  of  taxftble  oommoditieí  and  the  lesidencecf  tsspd  (patented)  tradcrs  to  tba 


UURAL  CODE  OP  HAITÍ.  3 

to  ihe  iieighboring  city  or  town ;  and  for  this  he  shall  have, 
from  thc  Jusiice  ot'  Peace  of  the  Commune,  a  license  which 
shall  be  delivei-ed  gratis  ;  and  on  no  pretence  shall  ihese  boats 
be  at  libcrly  lo  carry  on  the  coasting  trade  of  olher  ports,  or 
of  tlie  adjacenl  lillle  islands,  ñor  the  business  of  fishing  except 
for  the  exclusive  use  of  ihe  planiation. 

11.  All  ihe  fines  and  forfeitures  imposed  by  the  Rural 
Code,  shall  be  ínHicted  by  the  .lustices  of  Peace  when  not 
exceeding  the  valué  of  lüO  dollars,  and,  when  they  excced 
tliat  sjm,  by  the  civil  tribunals.  The  half  of  thc  said  fines 
and  forfeitures  shall  beloiig  lo  the  pnblic  treasury,  the  other  half 
to  the  informer. 

12.  On  the  day  of  the  festival  of  agriculture,  (the  first  of 
May,)  parlies  of  cultivators  from  each  section  shall  atlend,  at 
the  place  vvhere  the  Conncil  of  Notables  meets,  wilh  samples 
of  their  produce.  The  Council  of  Notables,  iu  the  presence 
of  all  the  aulhorities,  shall  crown  the  cultivator  who  shall 
have  besi  cultivated  his  farm,  in  each  ¡Section,  and  in  each 
kind  of  culture  ;  and  he  shall  receive  a  prize  of  encouragement, 
Exact  deíails  of  these  proceedings  s-hall  be  drawn  up  and  made 
public. 

1;J.  Every  year,  on  the  first  of  September,  the  Council  of 
Notables  shall  address,  to  the  President  of  Haiti,  a  circumstan- 
tial  report  rcspecting  the  stale  of  agriculture  in  each  Com- 
mune, acci  rapanied  by  their  observaiions  as  lo  the  best  means 
of  improving  it. 

14.  Af  the  end  of  the  year,  the  Commandants  of  Depart- 
ments  shall,  in  like  manner,  render  tlie  President  of  Haití 
an  account  of  the  state  of  agriculture  in  iheir  respective  de- 
partments,  and  also  of  the  statc  of  the  roads  and  high- 
v/a\s. 

LAVV,  No.   II. 

ON  THE  GENERAL  ADMTNI.STIÍAT10N  OF  THE  DIFFERENT 

AGRICUJ,TURAI>  ESTABLISHMENTS. 

ClIATTER   ]. 

Rules  relating  to  the  administra tion  of  agricullural  establish- 

ments  as  respccts  iheyropiielors  tf  tha  soil. 

Section   1. —  Of  Land/narhs,  Boundaries,  and 

Es  ahlishments. 

15.  All  the  landed  properties  situated  in  the  country,  and 
pioceeding  from  granls  made  by  the  State,  whether  under 
the  title  of  National  propcrty,  or  under  that  of  partial  gift, 
which  have  not  vet  been  surveyed  and  measiired,  ranst  be  so 


4  UURAL    COUt:    OR    HAITÍ. 

within  thc  space  of  one  yeai-  from  the  dale  of  ihu  promul- 
gaiion  of  ihe  present  code,  under  penalty  of  a  fine  of  one  dol- 
lar,  for  every  currenu  of  land,  to  be  paid  by  ihe  proprietor.  Wilh 
a  view  to  the  duc  execiition  of  this  regulaiion,  the  Justice  of 
Peace  of  ihe  Commune  shall,  afterthe  lapse  of  the  above  inter- 
val,  on  a  declaration  being  made  lo  him  of  the  facls,  employ  a 
surveyor  duly  commissioned,  to  measure  and  draw  a  plan  of  ihe 
unsurVeyed  grounda  al  the  expense  of  the  delinquent  grantee  : 
when  ihe  amount  of  the  fine  shall  be  fixed,  and  levied  togelher 
vvith  thc  expense  of  the  survey. 

16.  From  the  date  of  thc  promulgation  of  this  law,  no 
sale  of  propeny,  siluated  in  the  country,  can  be  execuied  be- 
fore  a  notary,  i'f  that  properly  shall  not  have  been  previously 
surveyed,  and  the  boundaries  previously  recognised  by  the 
title-deeds  .  ñor  in  any  case  can  a  partial  sale  take  place  un- 
less  the  land  shall  have  been  previously  surveyed.  Notarles 
acting  in  contraveiiíion  of  this  article  shall  incur  the  penalties 
of  the  law. 

17.  All  grants  of  land  made  previous  to  the  promulgation 
ofthe  present  code,  and  on  which,  in  a  year  from  that  lime, 
no  settlement  shall  have  begun  ;  and  all  grants  made  subse- 
queni  to  that  time,  on  which,  in  a  year  from  the  date  of  the  grant 
no  settlement  shall  have  commenced,  shall  revert  to  the  domain 
of  the  State  ;  and  the  title-deed  shall  be  given  up  and  sent  back 
tolhe  Government. 

18.  To  carry  the  last  regulation  into  eíTect,  the  ofíicer  of 
Rural  Pólice  in  conjnnction  with  the  Coiincil  of  Agriculture, 
shall  report  to  the  Justice  of  Peace,  and  military  command- 
ant  of  the  Commune,  the  uncultivated  state  of  the  grant ; 
and  these,  afler  ascertaining  the  correctness  of  this  Report, 
shall  examine  and  subscribe  it,  and  then  address  il  to  the 
.Commandant  of  the  Department,  who,  after  having  obtained 
proof  of  the  fact,  shall  withdraw  the  lille-decd,  and  send  it  to 
J,he  Government. 

19.  A  settlement  will  be  considercd  as  begun,  when 
there  shall  be  a  garden  cultivated  according  lo  1  he  rules  es- 
tablished  by  law,  and  the  extent  of  which  shall  be  dnly  pro^ 
porlioned  to  the  number  of  cultivators  attached  lo  the  pror 
perly. 

20.  The  proprielors  of  cultivated  lands,  which  are  conti- 
guous  to  each  other,  shall  be  bound,  al  their  common  expense, 
adequately  to  fence  their  properties.  Any  one  refusing  to  do 
so  shall  be  compellable  by  course  of  law. 

^1.  The    proprietors  of    rural  estales  are   bound   to  cause 


IlUllAL    CODK    01"    HAITÍ.  O 

to  be  fLxed,  during  any  surveys  made  at  ihcir  requisilion,  solid 
landmarks  iii  iron  or  iu  masonry  work,  or  in  durable  wocd,  un- 
dcr  paiii  of  a  ñne  of  ñvc  doUars  for  every  lai)dmr»i--lv  which  niay 
be  wanling. 

22.  The  proprietors  wbo  shall  bave  ncglected  to  cxecute  the 
preccdiiig  rcgulaüon,  shall  be  buund,  bcóidcs  pa^ñng  llic  fine, 
to  pay  the  artificer  wbo  shall  be  employcd,  by  the  orders  of 
the  Juslice  of  the  Poace  of  the  Communc,  to  fix  ihe  requi- 
sita landmarks. 

Section   II. —  Of  íhc  obIigaiiot;s  imposcd  on  the.  piopiietors 
vr  udmiaislrators  of  rural  property. 

23.  Tt  is  specially  forbidden  to  cut  dovvn  the  wood  on  the 
crest  of  niouiitains  and  for  a  hundred  paces  of  their  descent,  or 
at  the  bead  or  in  tiie  environs  of  springs,  or  on  the  baiiks  of 
rivers.  '1  he  proprietors  of  lands  watered  by  springs  or  rivers, 
miist  surround  the  bead  of  those  springs,  and  plant  the  borders 
of  the  rivers  with  plantain-trees,  bamboos,  and  other  irecs  cal- 
culated  to  promote  coolncss. 

24.  When  a  proprietor  inlends  lo  set  fire  to  new  wood,  or 
to  a  field  of  oíd  canes,  or  to  savannahs,  or  to  any  other  kind  of 
field,  he  shall  be  bound,  tweniy-four  hours  before,  to  apprise 
all  ihe  neighbors  bordering  upon  him,  of  his  intention,  under 
the  penalty  of  paying  for  all  the  damage  which  the  fire  may 
üccasion. 

25.  As  soon  as  a  fire  shall  break  out  on  an  estáte,  the 
neighboring  proprietors  a  id  cultivators  shall  be  bound  to  re- 
paír  thither,  in  order  to  assist  in  arrcsting  iis  progress. 

26.  It  is  forbidden  to  kindle  a  fire  in  the  savannahs  or 
in  the  fields  or  gardens  of  plantations,  without  the  express 
permission  of  their  proprietors,  renters,  managers,  or  con- 
ductor s. 

27.  There  must  not  be  kcpt  on  esíates  approprialed  lo  culti- 
vation,  manufactures,  and  other  establishments,  any  more  cattle 
iban  are  icquired  for  carrying  on  the  work  of  thern,  or  for  the 
use  of  the  proprietors,  managers,  conductors,  rciitcrs,  or  culti- 
vators :  and  these  animáis  must  be  kept  during  the  day  in  herds, 
and  at  night  in  pcns  or  enclosed  in  fields. 

28.  Animáis  ofthe  horse  kind,  horncd  catilc,  svv-ine,  &c. 
approprialed  lo  brceding,  cannot  be  kc[)l  cxcejít  on  breeding 
eslablishmenls,  according  to  the  law  rclating  lo  such  establish- 
ments. 

2Í).  No  proprietor,  rcnter,  or  manager  of  a  plantalion  can 
cstablish  on  his  estáte  a  system  contrary  l  >  thnt  cstabHslied 
bv  law. 


ti  KUUAL    CODU    0>     HAITÍ. 

;}U.  No  compaiiy  or  association  of  cultivators,  ñxed  on  the 
sanie  plantatiun,  símil  be  allowed  to  rent  the  whole  of  the  eslate 
on  which  the}'  reside,  iu  order  ío  manage  it  by  ihemselves  as  a 
partnership. 

31.  The  cottages  or  dwellings  of  ihe  cultivators  must  be 
built  on  one  and  the  same  poiul  of  the  plantation  to  which  they 
are  altachcd. 

Chapteu  II. 

Of  cultivaíion  generally. 

32.  The  principal  branch  of  cultivaíion  consists  in  the  rais- 
iug  of  plañís  and  tiees  yielding  pruduce  for  cxportaiion  to 
foreiga  counlrics,  grain  of  all  descriplions,  and  all  kinds 
of  füod  and  root.s,  designed  for  ihc  subsistence  of  the  popu- 
lation. 

33.  All  who  carry  on  this  principal  branch  of  culture, 
are  not  subject  to  tiie  territorial  and  land  tax,  except  on  the 
gross  produce  fit  for  exportalion,  which  they  shall  have 
got  in. 

34.  The  secondary  branch  of  cultivaíion,  consists  of  the  cul- 
ture niercly  of  pot  herbs,  of  flowers,  of  fruit-trees,  of  provisions, 
and  of  loddcr,  wheii  the  growih  of  ihese  takes  place  on  estates 
which  are  not  eslablished  for  carrying  on  the  principal  branch  of 
cultivaíion. 

35.  Those  whose  establishinent  is  especially  directed  lo  the 
secondary  branch  of  cultivaíion,  are  subject  to  the  territorial 
and  land  tax  on  the  estimated  valué  of  iheir  produce  in  each 
six  months. 

3(>.  On  every  rural  establishment,  they  shall  be  bound  to 
cultivate  provisions,  grain,  fruit-trees,  such  as  the  bread-tree, 
&c.,  suílicient  for  the  sustenance  of  the  perscns  employed 
the re. 

37.  All  the  gardens,  whether  they  produce  provisions  or 
grain,  must  be  carefully  attended  to,  under  the  responsibi- 
lity  of  the  proprietor,  rentei,  or  manager,  who,  in  case  of 
neMect,  shall  be  condemned  to  a  fine  of  from  threc  to  fifteen 
doUars. 

38.  On  every  plantation  the  cultivators  attached  to  it, 
and  who  work  for  a  fourlh  of  the  produce,  shall  be  bound 
to  have,  for  their  personal  use,  a  garden  of  provisions, 
which  they  shall  cultivate  during  iheir  hours  or  days  of 
repose. 

39.  With  this  view,  the  proprietors,  rentéis,  or  ma- 
nagers,  shall    he.  bouod  to  place  at  the  disposal  of   th<?  cul« 


RURAL   CODK   Oi    HAI'l  1.  I 

tivators,  ihe   land  uecessary   for  ihc   fürmatioii  of  ihuir  prívate 
garderis. 

40.  The  dikes,  reservoirs,  atid  conduils  wliich  serve  to 
supply  aiid  distribuía  the  water  rcquired  for  ilie  inliabitaiUs, 
bolh  lor  irrigation,  and  for  every  ollier  usefnl  piirposc,  sliall 
be  kept  in  order  l>y  all  ihe  parties  inieresicd,  who  shall 
be  boiind  lo  conlribute  lo  llie  laboius  necessary  lo  ihal 
end.  No  one  can  reíiise  lo  share  in  ihese  labours ;  ñor  can 
he  aliénate  liis  neiglibour's  share  of  ihe  water  withoul  lus 
consenl.  Every  one  ac.ing  conirary  lo  these  rules  shall 
pay  afineof  fiom  ten  to  filiy  doll^rs,  and  shall  be  bound  lo 
repair  al  his  own  chargc  ihe  conduii  vvhich  he  shall  have  ob- 
slructed  or  deslroyed. 

41.  Whei)  on  any  rural  property  ihc  produce  of  ii  shall 
be  on  ihe  poinl  of  beiiig  paclved  in  sacks,  bales,  casks  or  other 
packages,  ihe  oíficer  of  ihe  Kural  I^olice  of  vhe  íSeclion,  shall 
have  líie  righl  of  examining  it,  to  salisfy  himsclf  ihal  ihere  is 
no  fraud ;  and  when  ihere  is,  he  shall  stop  ihe  dolivery, 
and  immediaiely  reporl  the  malter  to  ihc  Juhlice  of  Peace 
of  ihe  Commune.  Jf  ihe  produce  has  otily  bcen  badly  pre- 
pared,  he  shall  suspend  lis  reinoval,  and  obligo  the  parlies  lo 
clean  it  anew. 

42.  The  Jnstice  of  Peace,  on  receiving  ihe  report,  shall 
appoint  skilful  persons  lo  examine  the  produce,  and  if  fraud 
should  be  proved,  ihc  produce  shall  be  forfeited  to  the 
Slate. 

43.  The  produce  intcnded  for  cxportation,  cannot  (juit  the 
plantation  to  be  carricd  lo  ihc  cities  or  lovvns,  and  delivcred  for 
sale,  vvilhout  a  permil  froni  ihe  proprielor,  when  he  resides  on 
ihc  estale,  or  when  he  does  nol  reside,  from  the  officcrs  of  the 
Rnral  Pólice  of  the  Scciion.  The  permil  shall  be  furnished 
gratis,  on  unstamped  paper,  by  ihc  officer  of  ihe  Pólice,  who 
shall  be  bound  lo  regisler  il. 

44.  All  produce  removed  in  conlravention  of  ibis  regula- 
tfon,  shall  be  seized  on  the  way,  and  lakcn  to  llic  Justicc  of 
Peace  of  the  Commune,  who  shall  ascerlain  whethertlic  pro- 
duce has  nol  been  slolen,  in  order  ihal  it  may  be  senl  back  lo 
ihe  proprielor,  andihal  the  presumed  ofi'ender  may  be  prose- 
ciíled.  If  il  should  appcar  that  the  proprielor  himself  had 
failcd  lo  furnish  the  permil,  he  shall  pay  a  fine  of  from  Lhree- 
lo  five  dollaps. 


8  IIUKAL  CUÜ¡¿   Of  HAITÍ. 

LAW,  No.  III. 

(.'OXCERMXG  THE  MUTUAli  CONTRACTS  BETWEEN  THE 
rUOrHIETOHS  ORPRLNCII'AL  UKNTEHS  AND  THE  CULTIVA- 
TORS  OR  LAliüRERS,  AND  THE  RECIPROCAL  OBLIGATIONS 
OF  BOTH. 

Chapter  i. 
General  legulations. 

45.  Those  persons  uho  sl)all  iiul  be  in  llie  actual  service 
oí"  ihe  Siate,  as  soldicrs,  meclianics,  or  otherwise,  and  whose 
profession  il  is  lo  cnkivale  thc  ground,  or  to  ciU  titnber  for 
e.xporlatiori,  sliall  be  obliged  for  ihcir  mutual  securily,  lo  en- 
icr  iiito  a  reciprocal  crigagenienl  wiih  ihe  proprieior  or  cliief 
reiiler  of  llie  rural  properiy,  or  of  tlie  woodland,  whcre  ihey 
are  lo  exercisc  iheir  indusiry.  The  conlracl  niay  be  enlered 
inlo  eiiher  collecüvely  or  individuaÜy,  al  ihe  pleasure  of  ihe 
coiitraciing  parlies. 

-16.  The  duralion  of  these  contracts  cannot  be  for  a  shorter 
lime  ihan  Iwo  years,  ñor  for  a  loriger  time  than  nine  years, 
in  ihe  case  of  ihe  secondary  branch  of  cullivalion  and  manu- 
factures; ñor  a  shorter  time  than  three  years,  ñor  for  a  ionger 
than  nine,  for  the  other  branches  of  cullivalion  ;  ñor  for  less 
ihan  six  monihs,  ñor  Ionger  ihan  a  year,  for  the  culling  of  wood 
for  exportation. 

4r.  The  conlract  shall  be  made  on  stamped  paper,  before  a 
Nolary,  who  shall  preserve  a  minute  of  it,  and  who  musí  ex- 
press  clearly  all  the  coiidilions  entered  inlo  by  the  conliaciing 
pariics,  vvliü  shall  be  al  liberty  lo  raake  such  slipulalions  as 
they  shall  judge  suiíable,  provided  these  do  not  coniravene  the 
regulaliiins  of  the  prcsenl  code. 

48.  Every  proprieior,  renier,  or  manager  of  a  plantation 
who  shall  iherc  receive  or  admit  of  any  cultivalors,  vi^ilhout 
makiiig  wiih  them  the  coDlracr,  required  by  the  !wo  preceding 
anieles,  shall  be  condemned  for  the  first  offence  to  a  fine  of  ten 
dollars  for  every  person  so  received  wilhoul  a  conlract,  and  to 
double  that  sum  in  case  of  a  second  offence  ;  and  besides  this, 
ihe  proprieior,  renter,  or  manager,  shall  not  be  able  to  bring 
any  nciioü  at  law,  agamst  ihe  cultivalors  who  may  have  failed 
lo  fidfil  iheir  verbal  agreoments.  The  same  rule  will  apply  lo 
wood  cntters  íor  exportation. 

49.  Every  conlracl  entered  into  wilh  a  cultivator,  whose  for- . 
mer  conlract  shall  not  have  been  lerminaied,  shall  be  nuil  and 
void  ;  and  thc  cultivator,  who  shall  have  entered  into  this  se- 
cond conlracl,  shall  be  sent  back,  at  his  own  expense,  lo  the 
properly  on  which  lie  had  engaged  himself,  and  shall  be  sub- 
jecl  lo  the  fine  fixed  by  the  last  article. 


RUKAL    CODE    OF     HAITÍ. 

60.  The  headmen  of  parties  contracting  to  work  for  half 
of  the  produce  shall  shave.  in  an  equal  proporlion  of  half, 
with  the  principal  proprielor  of  the  plantatioii,  in  all  they  shall 
reap  on  ihat  particular  estáte,  in  the  way  of  fruit,  provisions, 
pulse,  grain,  aud   produce  of  every  kind. 

51.  Whenever,  on  sugar  plantalions,  the  labor  shall  be 
done  for  half  of  the  produce,  the  proprietor,  before  the  divi- 
sión is  made,  shall  deducí  a  fifth  par  of  ihe  gross  produce, 
as  an  equivalen!  for  the  hire  of  machinery,  utensils,  catlle, 
&c.,  employcd  in  carrying  on  the  work,  and  for  the  expense 
of  repairs.  In  the  culture  of  olher  articles  the  aniounl 
of  the  expenses  causcd  by  the  rent,  or  by  the  charge  of 
carrying  on  the  u'ork,  shall  be  deduclcd  previous  to  the  di- 
visión. 

52.  The  Cultivatorscontracting  with  the  laborers  for  a  fourth 
part  of  the  returns  they  produce,  shall  have  foT  their  share 
a  fourth  part  of  the  gross  of  all  they  raise.  They  shall 
enjoy  tlie  vvhole  of  what  they  raise  on  their  own  prívate  gar- 
dens,  cultivated  by  themselves  duriug  their  hours  or  days  of 
rest. 

53.  Whenever,  in  the  great  plantations  of  sugar,  coffee, 
cotton,  and  Índigo,  the  season  shall  require  that  the  labor 
should  be  pressed  with  activity,  the  diíTerent  associations 
laboring  for  half,  employed  in  the  same  plantation,  shall 
mutually  assist  cach  other  in  their  labors,  giving  and  repaying 
to  each  other  an  equal  number  of  days'  labor.  The 
adrninistrator  of  the  property  shall  regúlale  ihis  kind  of  mu- 
tual aid. 

54.  When  the  producís  or  crops,  whatever  they  be,  shall  be 
prepared  and  collected,  vvhether  they  proceed  from  laborers 
working  for  a  fourth,  or  associations  laboring  for  a  half,  they 
cannot  be  removed  from  the  property  where  they  where  grown, 
until  a  división  shall  have  taken  place  between  the  proprietor  or 
chief  renter,  and  the  cultivator  laboring  for  a  fourth,  or  associa- 
tions for  a  half  of  the  produce. 

55.  Upon  sugar  plantations,  the  división  of  the  shares 
coming  to  the  cultivators  shall  be  made  after  the  grinding  of 
each  piece  of  canes.  On  the  plantations  where  they  onlv 
cullivate  provisions  or  grain  ;  or  cut  wood  for  firewood  or 
for  charcoal,  or  for  cabinet  work  or  building;  or  raise  fodder  ; 
or  are  engaged  in  other  irregular  works,  the  división  shall 
be  made  to  the  workmen  only  every  six  months.  On 
other  plantalions,  as  of  coffee,  collón,  cocoa,  Índigo,  &c., 
the  división  shall  take  place  at  the  end  of  the  respective 
crops. 


10  niiRAL     COI>je    OF    JIAlTf. 

56.  When  the  periods  arrive  for  dividing  the  proceeds 
among  ihe  cullivalors,  ihe  officer  of  the  Rural  Pólice  of  ihe 
Section  in  which  the  plantation  is  siiuated,  shall  be  called 
by  the  proprietor,  chief  renter,  or  their  maiiager,  lo  witriess 
the  división.  The  accounts  of  the  articles  manuíactured,  or 
oihcr  produce  reaped,  shall  be  exhibited,  with  a  ceriificale 
of  the  price  current,  and  one  from  the  purchaser  of  the  com^ 
modities  nientioned  in  the  last  article,  The  Hst  of  persons 
entitled  lo  share  shall  be  settled,  and  the  proceeds  shall  be 
reckoned  up. 

.57.  Each  of  the  co-sharers  shall  be  inscribed  in  the  distri- 
bulion  List,  according  lo  their  slrength  and  the  activity  and 
the  time  they  have  vvorked,  eiiher  in  the  first,  secood,  or  ihird 
class.  And  the  money  lo  be  shared  shall  be  divided  into 
quarter  shares,  half  shares,  and  whole  shares.  The  Conduct- 
ors  of  the  laborers  contracled  for  a  fourth  of  the  produce^ 
and  the  headmen  of  the  associations  laboring  for  a  half,  shall 
each  have  three  whole  shares.  The  head  sugar-boilers,  the 
head  wagoners,  and,  in  shorl,  the  head  of  each  departnrient 
of  labor,  shall  have  two  shares.  The  good  vvorkers  of  the 
firsl  class,  whcther  men  or  women,  shall  have  a  share  and  a 
half;  ihose  of  the  second,  one  share  ;  those  of  the  third,  three 
quarters  of  a  share ;  children  from  Iwelve  lo  sixteen  years 
of  age,  who  have  made  themselves  serviceable  according 
lo  their  capacities,  and  the  oíd  people  who  can  only  work 
modcrately,  half  a  share ;  and  children  from  nine  to  eleven 
who  have  been  occupied  according  to  their  age  and  strength, 
and  infirm  persons,  shall  have  a  qiiarter  share.  The 
broken  money,  arising  from  the  formation  of  the  shares, 
shall  go  to  augment  the  portion  of  those  laborers  who  shall 
have  displayed  the  greatest  punctuality  and  perseverance  in 
iheir  labors. 

58.  There  shall  be  furnished  lo  the  laborers  daily  tickets, 
to  show  the  days  they  are  presenl  at  work.  Every  week  these 
daily  tickets  shall  be  withdrawn  and  replaced  by  weekly  tickets, 
which  shall  be  brought  into  account  when  the  división  of  the 
money,  arising  from  the  crops,  lakes  place. 

59.  In  no  case  shall  the  oííicer  of  the  Rural  Pólice  of 
the  Section  wiihdraw,  from  the  share  divided,  any  part  for 
himself.  He  shall  prepare  k  written  statement  of  the  divi- 
sión ihat  has  been  made,  which  shall  be  addressed,  along 
wiih  the  documents  in  Veriíication  of  ií,  to  the  Council 
of  Notables  of  the  Commune.  there  to  be  referred  to,  if  ce* 
cessittv 


ii\;rai.  code  uf  haití.  I  i 

(jO,  Proprietors,  renters,  or  managers,  cannot  give  a  per- 
mit  lo  a  ciiltivator  or  under-tenant  lo  travel  m  the  same 
Commune,  and  lo  absent  himself  froni  his  home  and  his  la~ 
bor  for  more  ihan  eight  days,  wl)ich  permit  shall  be  deli- 
vcred  gralis  on  unslaniped  paper,  and  examiiied  and  subscri- 
bed  by  liie  ofíicer  of  ihe  Ivural  Pólice.  When  a  permil 
is  reqiiircd  for  a  longer  time,  the  proprietor,  chief  rentcr, 
or  manager,  shall  refer  the  matier  lo  the  Commandant  of  the 
Commune. 

Caapter   II. 

(f  the  Obligatíon  of  Proprietors,  Renters,  or  Managers,  to- 
ivards  tlie  CuUivntors. 

61.  Propiiclors  or  Renters  cannot  give  a  permit,  cannot 
employ,  except  in  agricultural  labor,  and  in  such  labor  as  is 
connected  thercwith,  the  ciiltivalors  who  shall  have  contracted 
vvith  them.  They  are  bound  to  behave  to  them  as  good  fathers 
of  families. 

62.  Proprietors  or  chief  renters  shall  furnish,  al  their  cosí 
and  charge,  the  tools  and  implemenis  of  husbandry  for  the 
cultivalors  contracting  to  work  for  a  fourth  of  the  produce. 
These  lools  cannot  be  renewed  unless  it  is  shown  ihat  they 
have  been  worn  out  or  been  in  the  service  of  the  proprietors. 
The  cultivatoi',  however,  who  shall  lose  the  tools  supplied  to 
liim,  shall  be  bound  lo  replace  them  ;  and  if  he  does  not,  others 
will  be  furnished  lo  him,  the  valué  of  wliich  shall  be  retained 
oul  of  his  porlion  of  the  income. 

63.  The  proprietor,  or  chief  renler,  shall  be  bound  to  fur- 
nish wiihout  expense,  to  the  cultivalors  working  for  a  fourth, 
the  means  of  conveying  their  shares  of  ihe  produce  to  the  place 
of  sale.  Those  associated  for  half  shall  ronvey  it  thilher  al 
t'heir  own  charge. 

64.  When  the  proprietor  or  chief  renler  undertakes  to 
sell,  or  cause  to  be  sold,  the  porlion  of  the  produce  coming 
to  the  cultivalors  for  a  fourth,  or  to  the  associalions  labor- 
iíig  for  a  half,  he  shall  be  bound  to  furnish  clear,  legal 
proof  of  the  price  currenl  of  the  articles  at  the  time  they 
are  sold,  and  to  produce,  at  the  lime  of  dividing  the  proceeds, 
the  certifícate  of  the  purchaser,  as  well  as  ihe  altesialion  of  the 
price  currenl. 

65.  When  ihe  parí  of  the  produce  coming  to  the  cultiva- 
lors working  for  a  fourth,  or  for  a  half,  shall  be  sold  by  the 
conduclors  of  the  workmen,  or  the  headnien  of  the  associa- 
*¿ong,   iheae    shall  \ye   cqually    bound  ío    furniph    proof  of  ihe 


12  RURAL  CODE  OF  HAITÍ. 

pnce  current  of  tlie  article  at  thc  moment  of  sale,  and  to 
exbibit  the  ceriificate  of  ihe  purchaser,  (as  fixed  in  the  last 
anide,)  in  order  to  show  ihat  the  co-siiarers  receive  fair- 
]y  that  part  of  the  produce  of  their  labor  to  which  they  are 
entitled. 

60.  In  no  case  can  the  proprictors  or  cliiefg  renters  deduct 
any  part  of  the  share  coniing  to  the  cullivators  working  for  a 
fourth,  or  to  thc  associations  working  for  a  half,  in  order  to  pay 
the  nianagers  ;  their  salaries  shall  be  placed  lo  the  account  of 
the  proprielor  or  chief  renter. 

67.  Proprietors  or  renters  shall  be  bound,  under  penalt}'^ 
of  a  fine  of  fromfive  tofifteen  dollars,  lo  agree  beforehand  with 
a  medical  praclitioner  if  ihere  be  one  in  the  Commune,  to 
look  after  their  cullivators,  and  furnisli  the  necessary  medi- 
cines ;  these  medicines  being  ñn^nished  gratis  to  the  culliva- 
tors contracling  at  a  fourth  ;  but  being  paid  for  al  cosí  price, 
when  furnished  lo  associations  working  for  half,  or  to  under 
tenants. 

68.  Proprietors  and  chief  renters  and  rural  proprietors, 
must  look  to  it  that  the  infant  children  on  the  properly  be  well 
taken  care  of.  To  this  end  one  or  more  females  shall  be  ex- 
pressly  appointed  lo  the  charge,  the  remuneration  for  whose 
atiention  shall  be  paid  by  the  cullivators,  in  proporlion  to  the 
number  of  their  children. 

Chapter  IÍI. 

Of  the  ohligations  of  tJ¿e  Cultivrtors  towards  the  Proprietors, 
Renters,  or Managers. 

69.  The  cullivators  shall  be  obedient  and  respectful  to  the 
proprictors  and  renters  wilh  whom  they  have  contracled,  as 
well  as  to  thc  managers. 

70.  The  cullivators  are  bound  to  execute,  with  zeal  and 
punclualiiy,  all  l,he  agricultural  labors  which  shall  be  required 
of  them  by  the  proprietors,  renters,  or  managers,  wilh  whom 
ihey  shall  have  conlracted. 

71.  The  cullivators,  whatever  be  the  nature  of  their  con- 
tract,  shall  be  bound  lo  devoto  their  whole  lime  to  ihe  la- 
bors they  have  engaged  lo  perform,  and  on  no  account  to 
leave  them.  They  shall  not  be  at  liberty  to  absent  tiiem- 
selves  from  their  habitation,  except  from  Satiirday  morn- 
ing  to  Monday  at  sunrise,  without,  the  consent  of  the  pro- 
prietors, chief  renters,  or  managers,  On  all  the  other  work- 
ing days  they  shall  be  bound  lo  have  a  permit  from  the 
proprielor,   chief   renter,   or   manager,  if  they   are    not  going 


UURAL    CODtí    bV    'AKll'l.  _       13 

out.  of  ihe  Commune.  R  it  if  ihey  are,  ihe  pcrinit  sliall  be 
cxamined  and  subscnbcd  by  the  oüícer  of  the  Rural  Pólice  of 
ihe  Secüon,  and  by  the  Ccmmandant  of  the  Place. 

72.  The  cullivalors  working  for  a  fourth,  or  associalions  for 
a  half  of  the  produce,  shall  be  bound  lo  prepare,  and  pul  in  a 
State  fit  for  delivery  the  portion  of  the  produce  bclonging  to  the 
proprieior  or  chief  renier,  and  lo  convey  that  produce  to  the 
place  for  delivery,  the  proprietor  or  clnef  renier  furaishing  the 
ineans  of  transportation. 

Chapter  IV. 

Of  the  under  contracts,  behü'  en  the  Jarmers  contracthig  for 
hulf,  and  the  cultivators  emploT/ed  by  thcm. 

73.  The  sub-tenants,  and  the  hcad  men  of  associatcd  parlies 
upon  the  planialious,  shall  have  ihe  power  of  foriuing  sub-con- 
tracls  directly  wilh  the  cultivalors  ;  but  ihcv  shall  continué  re- 
sponsible  lo  the  proprietor  or  chief  renier'  for  the  acts  of  ihe 
sub-contracting  parties. 

74.  'J'he  number  sub-contracting  cannot  exceed  ten  for  each 
sub-lenant  or  headman  of  an  association. 

Chapter   V. 

Of  the  rules  relating  lo  such  as,  bcing  in  the  service  of  the 
y^y-é     rcpublic,  reside  and  labor  on  rural  properties. 

75.  Soldieis  in  active  service,  or  other  persons  in  the  em- 
ployment  of  the  State,  may  make  arrangements  virith  the  pro- 
pnelors  or  chief  rcnlcrs,  and  wilh  headmen  of  associalions, 
workuig  for  half,  or  under  tenanls,  to  labor  in  cultivating  the 
ground,  either  for  a  fourth  or  a  half,  or  as  sub-tenants.  In  ihis 
case,  they  shall  be  subject  to  all  the  obligations  which  thcy 
shall  have  contractcd,  and  which  shall  be  compatible  wilh  iheir 
public  duties. 

7b.  When  soldiers,  or  olhers  in  the  service  of  the  State,  who 
have  fi\ed  iheir  residence  on  a  plantation,  shall  not  luu'c  con- 
tractcd  wilh  the  proprietor  or  renter  of  that  properly,  they  may 
slill  make  arrangements  wilh  him  ciihei  vcrbally  or  in  writing, 
lo  work  by  the  week,  by  the  month,  or  by  the  job.  al  such  price 
and  on  such  lerms  as  shall  be  agreed  between  thcm,  bul  thcse 
soldiers  shall  be  bound  lo  give  their  assistance,  wiihout  any 
payment  on  that  account,  in  all  the  labors  connccled  wilh 
the  conduits  for  irrigalion,  and  wilh  the  other  wells  and 
cislerns,  as  well  as  the  fences  and  cnclosures  of  the  gardens 
and  savannahs,  and  the  general  maintcnance  of  good  order  on 
the  propertv. 


14  UUUAL    CODE    OK    HAITÍ. 

77.  When  tlic  soldicrs,  or  olhers  in  thc  service  of  the  State, 
sliall  not  act  agrceably  to  ilie  Iwo  last  articles,  in  regard  to 
<lie  proprietors  or  chief  reniers,  they  rnay  be  sent  avvay  from 
llie  propcrty. 

7b.  Thc  soldiers,  or  others  in  the  service  of  thc  State,  who 
sliall  conlrací  wiih  proprietors  or  reniers  to  work  for  wages, 
by  the  wcek  or  ollierwise,  raiist  respcct  and  obey  the  said  pro- 
prietors, rcnters,  or  managers  of  the  propcrty  on  vvhich  they 
shall  labor. 

79.  When  soldiers,  or  others  in  the^  service  of  the  State, 
.shall  havc  been  required  by  the  proprietor,  chief  renter,  or 
manager,  to  work  by  the  day,  by  the  week,  or  by  the  job, 
or  otherwise,  in  a  fíeld  cultivated  by  laborers  for  a  fourth, 
or  to  assist  in  the  manufacture,  or  gatheriiig  in  of  the  crop 
of  produce,  the  wages  paid  to  this  descriplion  of  laborers 
shall  be  deductcd  from  the  mass  of  the  proceeds  of  ihis 
labor  bcfore  the  fourth,  coming  to  the  cultivators,  shall  be 
dcducled. 

80.  When  laborers,  such  as  are  spoken  of  in  the  preced- 
ing  article,  shall  be  required,  by  the  headman  of  an  asso- 
ciation  working  for  half,  to  assist  them  in  their  labors,  the 
wages  paid  to  them  shall  be  deductcd  from  the  portion  com- 
ing to  the  associated  body,  before  the  distribution  of  it  lo 
ihat  body  can  be  made. — If  tliese  laborers  should  quil  of  their 
own  accord  thc  work  for  which  they  have  been  engaged,  be- 
fore the  end  of  the  week,  they  shall  have  no  claim  for  the  time 
they  shall  have  worked  during  the  former  part  of  the  same 
week. 

Chapter  VI, 

On  the  vietJiod  of  termina lirig  d^fficulties  hetween  pro'prietors, 
reniers,  managers,  cultivators,  assuciated  ptrsons,  sub-te- 
nants,  ^c. 

81.  When  differences  shall  arise  between  agricullural  pro- 
prietors, principal  renters,  managers,  and  cultivators,  associates 
for  half,  iir  sub-tenants,  the  parties  shall  first  carry  their  com- 
plainls  or  claims  before  ihe  oíficer  of  Kural  Pólice  of  the  Sec- 
lion,  who,  assisted,  if  need  be,  by  the  Council  of  Agricuhure 
of  the  quarter,  shall  forthwith  eniploy  himself  in  amicably 
tcrminating  thc  differences,  as  far  as  they  may  be  within  his 
province. 

82.  In  cases  where  the  differences  are  of  a  nature  not  to 
be  decided  by  the  oííicer  of  the  Rural  Pólice,  assisted  by  the 
Coimcil  of  Agriculture,  he  shall  cali  upon  the  parties  to  choose 
arbiters,  within  the  Seclion,  to   settle  and  decide  their  diífe.p 
enees. 


nUllAL  CUD£  ÜK  li.uri.  15 

S'.i.  !n  cases  where  tlic  differcnccs  cannot  ihus  be  seltled  by 
arbilralion  oii  ihc  ^pol,  or  where  \\\c  pariies  sliall  nol  liave  na- 
med  arbiiers,  llie  officer  of  vlie  Rural  Pólice  sliall  wail  lili  ^a- 
Inrday  or  Smiday  in  order  lo  send  the  pariies  belore  tbe  Jiis- 
tice  of  Peace  of  ihe  Coinmuiie.  The  vvhole  imist  be  conclu- 
ded  within  six  days  at  mosl. 

84.  The  Jusiice  of  Peace  shall  be  obiiged  to  decide  ihedif- 
ference,  and  shall  nol  be  al  iiherlVj  under  pain  of  beiiig  pnnish- 
ed  for  a  denial  of  Jusiice,  to  allege  the  silence  of  ihe  law  orí 
the  case  broughl  before  bim  for  bis  decisión. 

85.  The  liisiice  of  Peace  shall  be  bound  lo  prononnce  with- 
in iwenly-four  hours,  al  ilie  ulriiosi,  afler  the  appearance  of  ihe 
pariies. 


LAW,  No.  TV. 

COi\CEKM,\G  Br.'EEDING  FARMS. 

Chapter  i. 
Of  (he  estabJishment  and  ai  iriiriUtrution  of  hreeáing  farms. 

b6.  Brecding  farins  cannol  be  established  excepl  u\  places 
sufficienlly  disiant,  nol  less  al  ihe  leasl  than  a  league,  from  the 
planlalions  cnllivaled  for  produce. 

87.  In  fiiiure,  in  order  to  establisli  a  breeding  farm  for  liorn- 
ed  caitle,  il  is  necessary  lo  be  a  proprielor  of  al  leasl  fifly  car- 
reaux*  of  land  provided  wiih  the  necessaiy  pasturage  ;  and  for 
hogs  twenty-five  curreaux. 

8W.  The  number  of  keepers  on  breeding  farms  cannot  ex- 
ceed  five  men,  compri.sing  ihe  inasler  keeper,  ihey  having  with 
ihem  iheir  wives  and  children. 

89.  Every  keeper  of  a  breeding  fartn,  wbo  shall  find  in  tbe 
herds  comtnilled  lo  bis  care,  or  in  the  savannahs  of  ihe  breeding 
farnn  on  which  he  is  employed,  any  slrange  animáis,  shall  be 
bonnd  lo  give  notice  of  ihenn  foiihwiih  lo  ihe  neighboring  cat- 
tie  keepers  ;  and  if  ihese  animáis  should  nol  belong  lo  iheir 
caitic  pens,  ihen  notice  of  them  shall  be  given  lo  ihe  officer  of 
llie  Rural  Pólice  of  the  Seclion. 

90.  Afler  ibese  slrange  animáis  have  remaincd  three  monibs 
in  ibe  savannah  of  a  breeding  farm,  wilhoul  beiíig  r.-claimed  bv 
iheir  üwners,  ihey  shall  be  taken  by  the  caiile  keeper  before  the 
Jusiice  ol  Peace  of  the  Commune,  in  order  ihat  ihey  niay  be 
conducted  lo  ihe  pound. 

vn.  As  soon  as  an  animal  on  a  breeding  farm  shall  appearto 
be  aliacked  by  a   coniagious  disorder,   ii  musí,    under  pain   of 

*  A  carreaucontaiot  about  three  acres 


15  IILRAL    CODE    OF    lUYTl. 

a  fine  of  ten  lo  Ivvenly  doll.irs,  pa3'able  by  the  catlle  keeper, 
be  separfiled  and  shuí  out  froin  all  comiiiunicaiion  wiih  ihe 
othci  callle,  in  order  lo  be  laken  proper  care  of  lili  ils  cure  or 
dcalh. 

92."  Every  animal  dving  on  abreediiig  farm  of  a  conlagious 
disorder  shall  be  burnl  or  bnried. 

93.  Ii  isforbidden  on  pain  ofa  fine  of  len  lo  iwenly  dollars, 
payable  by  every  oífender,  lo  ¿ci  fire  to  ihe  savannahs  of  brecd- 
ing  farms  wiihoul  permission  of  liie  ofíicer  of  ihe  Ruial  Pólice 
of  ihe  Cominune. 

94.  When  il  shall  happen  ihat  callle  dio  on  the  planialions, 
ofordinary  maladies.  or  by  accident,  if  ihe  proprielor  or  chief 
renter  of  llie  breeding  farm  is  not  present,  ihe  master  keeper 
shall  be  bound  to  oblain  an  atieslalion  of  the  dealh  of  the  ani* 
mal  from  the  officer  of  the  Rural  Pólice,  or  from  some  of  the 
neighbors  ;  and  the  skin,  havmg  the  stamp  or  mark,  shall  be 
produced  lo  ihe  proprielor,  olherwise  ihe  keepcr  *hall  be  bound 
lo  replane  ihe  animal. 

95.  The  animáis,  not  onlv  ihose  of  ihe  breeding  farms,  but 
ihose  which  are  employed  in  the  work  of  planlalions,  cannot 
be  siamped  excepl  wiih  casi  stamps  ;  and  il  is  forbidden  to 
make  marks  on  these  animáis  by  ihe  hand. 

Chapter  II. 

Of  the  controcts  betumeen  the  proprietors  o»*  renters  of  breeding 

farms  and  those  employed  on  thtm. 

96.  The  proprieiors  or  renters  of  breeding  farms  cannot  re- 
ceive  on  their  farms  any  keepers  or  other  persons,  unless  they 
have  previously  contracled  wiih  them  agreeably  lo  the  article 
47,  of  I.aw  III. 

97.  The  obligations  imposed  reciprocally  on  rural  proprie- 
iors or  renters  and  the  culiivators,  shall  be  common  lo  the 
proprieiors  or  renters  of  breeding  farms,  and  all  employed 
by  them,  in  all  ihat  coricems  good  order  and  ihe  General  Pó- 
lice. 

98.  Neither  the  master  catlle  keeper  ñor  any  other  callle 
keeper  can  receive  on  the  breeding  farm  where  ihey  are 
employed,  animáis  or  catlle  belonging  to  other  people, 
wiihoul  the  consent  of  the  proprieiors  or  renters  of  the 
farms. 

99.  Neither  the  master  callle  keeper  ñor  the  other  keepers 
shall  be  al  liberty  lo  remove  or  sell  any  animal  of  the  farrtí, 
wiihoul  having,  in  writing,  the  consent  of  ihe  proprielor  or 
renter,    and  wiihout  a  permit   on   stamped    paper   from   the 


ÍIUKAL    COUtí    OF    UAITI.  17 

ofíicer  of  the  Rural  Pólice  of  ihe  Sectioii,  who  sliall  be  bound 
lo  regisler  ihe  pevmit  with  ihe  slamp  of  thc  animáis. 

LAW,  No.  V. 

ON    THE  CARE  AND   MANAC3EMENT   OF   THE   ANIMALS,   AND 
THE  DAMAGE  THEY  MAY  DO   IN   THE   FIELDS. 

100.  Cattle  belonging  ío  cultivators,  shall  be  kept  in  herdi. 
with  ihose  of  ihc  proprietor ;  and  thc  keejiers  shall  be  paid 
thcir  salary,  half  by  the  proprietor,  and  half  by  thc  cul- 
tivators. 

101.  It  is  forbidden  to  mutílate,  maim,  or  kill  beasts  of  bur- 
den,  or  horned  cattle,  found  in  the  cultivated  land,  or  gardens, 
having  leaped  over  or  forced  íhe  fences. 

lO'-i.  It  is  forbidden  likewise  to  wound  or  kill  sheep  found  in 
cultivated  gardens,  or  enclosin-es. 

103.  Pigs  and  goats,  found  in  cultivated  gardens  and  cnclo- 
sures,  may  be,killed. 

104.  The  animáis  enumerated  in  Articles  101  and  102, 
which  may  be  found  in  cultivated  gardens,  shall  be  conducted, 
wilhin  twenty-four  hours  alter  their  seizure,  before  a  Justice 
of  Peace,  to  be  sent  to  the  pound  of  the  Commune,  if 
within  that  time  the  owner  do  not  withdraw  them  from  the 
pen  of  the  plantation  in  the  gardens  of  which  they  may  be 
found. 

105.  The  ofíicer  of  the  Rural  Pólice  shall,  within  twenty- 
four  hours  after  a  declaration  by  the  partios  interested,  be 
bound  to  draw  up  a  written  statemeni  of  the  damage  done  by 
the  animáis,  and  send  it  to  the  Justice  of  Peace,  unless  the 
due  compensation  is  voluntarily  made  to  the  owner  of  the  da- 
maged  gaitlen. 

106.  The  oíhcer  of  the  Rural  Pólice  shall  take  care 
to  send  the  written  stateraent  to  the  Justice  of  Peace,  in  due 
form  as  above,  that  the  said  Justice  may  decide  according  to 
law. 

107.  The  keepers  who  shall  have  sufí'ered  íhe  animáis 
mentioned  in  Article  27,  to  escape,  whcn  committed  to  their 
chargc,  shall  be  bound  to  pay  thc  expenses  attending  their 
capture,  according  to  the  tariíTestablishcd  by  law. 

IOS.  Proprictors,  renters,  or  managers  of  plantations,  are 
expressly  forbidden  to  make  use  in  any  manner  for  themsclves 
of  the  cattle,  taken  in  iheir  gardens,  during  the  lime  thy  shall 
remain  in  their  pens  before  being  sent  to  the  pound :  any 
violation  of  this  articJe  shall  be  puüi&hed  by  a  ñne  of  from  five 
to  fifteen  dollare. 

3 


18  RURAL    GODE    OF    ilAlTÍ. 

109.  The  seizurc  of  ihe  animáis  mentioned  in  Arlicles  I  Oí 
ríiid  102,  in  gardens,  when  they  are  conducted  lo  ihe  pound  of 
ihe  Communc,  shall  be  paid  for  as  foUows  : — For  each  of  the 
liorse  kind,  ene  dollar ;  for  each  ass,  sevciitv-five  cents  ;  for 
each  honied  animal,  one  dollar  and  a  half ;  and  for  each  ram  or 
sheep,  iwenty-five  cents  ;  ■ene  half  to  belong.  lo  the  seizor,  and 
one  half  lo  the  rural  guards. 

110.  When  the  animáis  seized  in  gardens  shall  be  wiih- 
drawn  from  the  pen  of  the  plantaiion,  bcfore  being  sent  to 
the  pound,  there  shall  tlien  be  paid,  and  only  to  the  persons 
Avho  have  taken  them,  half  the  penalty  fixed  by  iho  last  Ar- 
ticle. 

111.  When  an  animal  seized  in  a  garden,  and  sent  to  ihe 
pen  of  the  planiation,  happens  to  die  by  accident,  or  otherwise,- 
during  the  short  time  it  remains  there,  or  while  passing  to  the 
residence  of  the  Justice  of  the  Peace  of  the  Commune,  the 
officcr  of  the  Pólice  shall  be  bound,  by  witnesses,  to  ascertain 
the  cause  of  the  death  of  the  animal. 

112.  When  the  death  of  the  animal  shall  have  been  caiised 
by  negligence,  want  of  food,  or  violence,  the  proprietor,  renter,. 
or  manager  of  ihe  plantation  shall  pay  its  valué,  as  eslimated 
by  arbitrators  named  by  the  Justice  of  the  Peace  of  the 
Commune.  The  sum  thus  paid,  shall  be  sent  to  the  public 
administrator  of  the  district,  to  be  paid  to  the  owiier,  should 
he  appear,  or,  failing  this,  into  the  treasury.  In  all  cases, 
the  damage  done  by  the  animal  shall  be  paid  for  out  of  these 
proceeds. 

113.  When  animáis  seized  in  gardens,  by  virtue  of  Article 
104,  shall  be  taken  to  the  Justice  of  the  Peace  of  the  Commune, 
to  be  sent  to  the  pound,  if  the  owner  consents  to  pay  the  damage- 
done,  and  the  expenses  of  seizure,  before  they  enter  the  pound, 
the  Justice  of  the  Peace  shall  acquiesce. 

114.  Persons  conducting  herds  of  cattle  from  one  Commune 
to  another,  whether  to  market,  or  for  agriculture,  shall  be 
bound  to  próvido  themselves  with  a  permit,  stating  the  kind  and 
number  of  animáis  they  are  conducting,  their  description  and 
marks. 

115.  The  permits  shall  be  delivered  either  by  the  Com- 
mandants  of  Communes,  or  given  by  the  owners  and  examined 
and  signed  by  the  Commandant ;  or  upon  certificates  furnished 
by  the  officer  of  the  Rural  Pólice  of  the  Sections  from  vi^hence 
the  animáis  come.  These  permits  shall  be  registered  by 
those  who  delivered  them,  and  seen  and  signed  by  the  Com- 
mandants  of  all  the  Communes  through  which  the  herds  may 
P;a5s 


kUUAL  CÜDE  ÜF  HAITÍ.  19 

iltí.  The  cüiRluclors  of  herds,  whcii  niet  by  ihe  Rural 
Pólice  or  ihe  gend'armerie,  shall  be  bound,  on  demand,  to 
show  tlieir  permits  ;  and  whf;re  ihc  jiumbcr  of  animáis,  or 
iheir  dcscription,  shall  iiot  agree  with  ihc  statcment  in  ihe 
perinit,  they  niay,  should  any  cause  of  suspicion  appear,  be 
arrested,  and  conducied  to  the  nearest  post,  with  the  animáis, 
in  oider  to  be  brought  beforc  the  Justice  of  the  Peace  of  the 
Comnume. 

117.  If  the  parties  brought  before  the  Justice  of  the  Peace, 
cannot  prove  iheir  right  of  propcrtv  in  the  animáis  fov  which 
there  is  no  pennit,  and  if  tliey  cannot  give  good  securily  for 
ihcir  bringing  back  the  proof  of  properly  wilhin  a  time  to  be 
-allowed  them,  not  exceeding  fiftecn  days,  the)'  shall  be  sent 
to  prisoh,  and  the  animáis  to  the  pound. 

118.  Within  a  month  from  the  day  of  the  arrest,  the  Jus- 
í\ce  of  the  Peace  shall  be  bound  to  write  to  the  Justice  of 
the  Coramune  from  which  the  person  imprisoned  may  have 
come,  or  to  the  oñiccr  of  the  Rural  Pólice  of  the  section,  (if  in 
the  same  Comnuine,)  to  obtain  information  both  about  the 
person  and  the  animáis  stopped :  which  information,  on  be- 
ing  received,  ghall^be  forwarded  to  ihe  public  administrator, 
with  the  written  statcment  of  the  Justice  of  the  Peace,  to  be 
used  as  the  ground  of  charge  against  the  suspected  person, 
should  cause  appear  for  prosecuting  him. 

L.A.W,  No.  Vi. 
CONCERNING  THE  RURAL  PÓLICE 

TiTLG    FlRST. 

General  Regulutions. 

119.  The  Rural  Pólice  embraces  all  which  belongs  to  the 
inanagement  and  the  prosperity  of  rural  property. 

120.  The  Rural  Pólice  is  conducted  under  the  superin- 
íendence  of  the  Commandants  of  Departments,  and  of  the 
Comraandants  of   Communes,    by    officers   of    Rural     Pólice 

■  placed  in  the  Sections  of  each  Commune ;  by  the  rural  guards, 
by  the  gend^armerie,  and,  at  need,  bv  detachineiUs  of  troops  of 
the  line. 

121.  The  Justices  of  the  Peace  exercise  also  the  Rural 
Pólice  in  the  cases  pointed  out  by  law 

122.  Tlie  Councils  of  Notables  of  the  Communes,  and  tliC 
Councils  of  Agriculturc,  are  to  assist,  at  need,  all  the  authorities 
in  perfectly  maintaining  ihe  superintendcnce  of  the  Agricultu- 
lal  Pólice. 


20  RURAL   CODE   Oí'  HAIfí. 

TiTLE    SeCOND. 

Of  thc  Superiníendeiice. 

Chapter  i. 

Of  fhe  Mgh  superintendeiice  of  ihc  Commajidanis  of 
Dppartmints. 

123.  The  Military  Commandant  of  thc  Deparlment  having 
ihe  general  supcrintendcnce  of  the  agriciütiire  of  the  Deparl- 
ment intrusted  to  him,  imites  the  authority  ncce?sary  for 
giving  activity  to  agriculture,  and  is  responsible,  líít,  for  tho 
decay  of  cukivation  withia  the  extent  of  his  comniand ;  2d, 
for  the  execution  of  the  whole  or  part  of  the  Rural  Codo 
within  the  extent  of  his  Department ;  3d,  for  the  negligence 
of  the  Commiindants  of  Communcs  under  his  orders,  rela- 
tivo to  the  snperintendence  of  agricult\ire  in  the  Commiines 
confined  to  them,  jDrovided  he  shall  not  have  checked  that 
negligence. 

124.  The  Comnaandant  of  the  Departnaent  is  bound  to 
make,  once  in  every  year,  a  circuit  through  all  the  rural  Sec- 
tions  of  the  different  Communes  composing  the  department, 
in  order  to  satisfy  hiniself  personally  of  the  execution  of  the 
lavvs,  of  the  progress  and  state  of  industry,  and  make  a  detailed 
report  upon  the  subject  to  the  President  of  Haíti. 

125.  This  annual  report,  which  must  be  made  hy  the 
Commandants  of  Departments  to  the  President,  shall  state 
the  number  of  plantalions  kopt  up  in  every  Section,  their 
kind  of  cultivaüon,  their  improvement,  or  their  decay,  together 
with  the  condition  of  the  roads  and  ways,  both  public  and 
prívate, 

Chapter  II. 

Of  the  Superintendents  of  the  Commandants   of  Places  and 

Communes. 

126.  The  Commandant  of  the  Place  or  the  Commune 
has  the  cultivation  of  the  Commune  intrusted  to  him.  íf 
he  has  under  his  orders  cantons  or  parishes  which  form  mili- 
tary posts,  the  Commandants  of  these  posts  have  the  partí- 
cula'- oversight  of  thc  cultivation  of  the  district  subject  to  their 
command. 

127.  The  Commandant  of  the  Commune  is  responsible 
for  the  decrease  of  cultivation  within  the  sphere  of  his  com- 
mand, if  it  proceeds  from  the  neglect  of  any  branch  of  the 
public  service. 

J28,  The  Commandants    of    Places    and    Communes   are 


RUllAL   CODE    or    IIAITI.  21 

boiind  tü  makc,  tlircc  limes  in  the  ycar,  tlic  circuit  of  ihc  diíTcr- 
ciit  Scctions  lindcr  thcir  command. 

líJO.  The  Commandant  of  ihc  Cotniminc,  in  liis  civcuils, 
shall  visit  thc  frardens  of  produce  and  provisions,  tlic  fcnccs, 
and  thc  ncw  planlations.  He  shall  cnlcr  iiito  all  thc  details 
pointcd  out  by  the  Rural  Codc,  ascerlaining  whelher  thc  offi- 
cer  of  the  Rural  Pólice  of  the  Scction  hasl'ulfilled  all  thc  du- 
ties  imposed  upon  him  by  the  law.  He  shall  reprcss  vvliatcvcr 
acts  of  ncgligcnce  and  irrcgularity  he  shall  observe  ;  and  of  the 
wholc,  an  account  shall  be  drawn  up  in  the  prcscribcd  form,  for 
each  Scction  ;  a  duplícate  of  which  shall  be  sent  to  thc  Com- 
mandant of  the  Department. 

ClIAPTER    III. 

Of  the  Rural  Sections,  of  the  Officers  of  the  Rural  Pólice, 
of  the  Rural  Guaras,  and  of  the  Managers  and  Co7iduc- 
tors  of  Plantations. 

Sect.    1. —  Of  the   Rural   Scctions. 

130.  The  Communes  shall,  by  an  express  regulation  of 
ihe  President  of  Ilaíli  for  each  Mililary  Department,  be  di- 
vided  into  agricullural  Sections,  of  aboul  fonr  leagues  each  ir» 
the  plains,  and  in  the  mountains  according  to  the  nature  of  the 
ground. 

181.  Each  Section  siíall  have  i's  proper  ñame;  and  its 
limits  and  boundaries  shall  be  fixed. 

132.  After  the  Sections  are  formed,  the  Commandant  of 
the  Commune,  the  Council  of  Noiables,  and  one  of  the  pri- 
vale  surveyors,  shall  prepare  in  triplícale,  upon  sheets  endor- 
sed  by  the  Justice  of  Peace,  scliedules  of  ali  the  rural  proper- 
lies  situated  in  each  Section,  wiih  thc  ñames  and  designation 
of  the  proprietors,  the  extent  of  each  propeny,  and  tiie  kind  of 
lillage  carried  on  there.  One  of  ihese  schedules  sliall  be  de- 
positad in  ihe  office  of  the  Commandant  of  the  Commune, 
one  wiih  the  Council  of  Notables,  and  the  oiher  in  the  hands  of 
the  officer  of  the  Rural  Pólice  of  ihe  Section. 

133.  The  Council  of  Notables  shall  furnish  to  the  Justice 
of  Peace  of  the  Commune  a  coliated  copy  of  thc  schedule 
deposited  wiih  ihem.  The  Commandant  of  the  Comnnme 
shall  furnish  to  the  Commandant  of  thc  Department,  a  copy 
of  the  same  schedule  deposited  in  his  office.  The  Com- 
mandant of  the  Department,  after  having  connected  the 
schedules  of  thc  planlations  of  all  the  Sections  of  the  Com- 
mune forming  his  Department,  shall  draw  up  a  catalogue  of 
ihe  wholc,  a  ceriified  copy  of  which  he  shall  addrcss'lü  the 
President  of  Haíii. 


22  Ill^liAL     JODE    OP    HAITÍ. 

];]'}.  Tiic  ofiíccr  uf  ihe  Rural  Pólice  shall  íí'wc  noticc  lo 
jhe  Couim;ir¡(Jaiil  oí  ihe  Couimune,  oí'  evcry  cliange  of  pro- 
pcrly  of  a  rural  cslale  siiualed  in  ihe  Seclion,  and  of  every 
cliangc  of  cuhivalion,  who  sliall  note  il  in  ihe  rol!  deposiled  in 
liis  office,  and  shall  give  noticc  of  illo  ihc  Commandanl  of 
ihe  Dcparlment,  who  sh.all  likcwisc  inscribe  the  changc  on 
ihe  roll  il)  his  h.iiuls,  and  infurní  ihe  Governmenl  of  it. 

135.  The  Cüuncil  of  Agricullure^  of  the  Section,  shall 
give  ihe  same,  noticc  lo  ihe  Council  of  Notables  of  ihe  Com- 
munc  ;  and  the  Council  of  Notables,  afler  having  noled  it, 
shall  inform  the  Juslice  of  Pcacc,  who  shall  cause  ihe  change 
lo  be  inscribed  on  ihe  copy  of  tlie  roll  in  his  office. 

136.  Evcry  ycar,  between  the  first  and  fiftecnih  of  Feb- 
ruary,  ihe  oflicers  of  the  Rural  Pólice  of  each  Seclion,  shall 
receive  from  the  agents  for  ihe  financial  deparlment  of  their 
Coramune,  a  certain  mimber  of  siamped  lists  of  population 
in  blank  ;  which  ihey  shall  bo  bound  lo  furnish  lo  the  proprie- 
tor,  renler,  or  manager  of  each  plantalion  of  the  Section, 
before  the  end  of  llie  monlh;  receiving  the  price  of  the  slamp, 
which  shall  be  paid  over  lo  the  agen!.  Tliis  assessrncnt 
shall  be  made  as  foUows : — The  siamped  list  of  population 
for  an  cslale  containing  ten  carreaux  of  land,  shall  be  iwelve 
and  a  half  cents  ;  for  those  having  eleven  to  Iwenty-one  car- 
reaux, twenly-five  cents  ;  for  twenty-one  carreaux,  and  upwards, 
fjfty  cenls. 

137.  The  proprietors,  renters,  or  managers  of  planlalions, 
shall  be  bound  to  return  the  plantalion  list  fiUed  up  in  the  man- 
.ner  there  poinled  out,  to  the  oííicer  of  the  Rural  Pólice,  at  the 
latcst  on  the  20th  of  March  following,  under  penalty  of  a  fine 
of  fifleen  to  fifty  dollars  for  each  neglect. 

138.  The  oííicer  of  the  Rural  Pólice  of  each  section  shall 
be  bound,  on  the  5ih  of  April  at  the  laiest,  to  send  in  all  the 
population  lists  of  liis  Seclion,  or  to  note  the  ñames  of  the 
defaulters,  to  the  Council  of  Notables  of  each  Commune,  under 
penalty  of  suffering  himself  the  fine  imposed  by  the  preceding 
Article. 

139.  On  the  first  of  May  every  year,  the  Councils  of  No- 
tables of  every  Commune  shall  addiess  to  the  Government  the 
original  population  lists  which  ihey  have  received,  in  virtue  of 
the  preceding  Arlicle. 

Seo.  2. —  Of  the   officers  of  Rural  Pólice,   and  of    the  rural 

guaras. 

140.  In  every  Rural  Section,  a  military  oííicer  of  subaUern 
rank  (from  sub-lieutenant  lo   caplain)  cíiosen  by  the  Presi' 


KVRAj,  coui;  wr  ii.Ai'ri.  23 

denl  of  Haíii,  shall  be    slaiionecl,  \vho   sliall    be  charged   willi 
the  superinlendeiice  of  ilie  Sectioii,  and  iis  Pólice. 

141.  Theofíicer  of  the  Rural  pólice  of  ihe  differenl  Sections 
shall  be  indepei)dent  ofeach  olher,  and  shall  havc  no  relalion 
cxcept.  vvilh  the  Commandants  of  the  Commune  and  of  the 
Department  inidcr  whosc  orders  ihey  were  placed:  they  shall 
correspond  moreover  vviili  the  civil  authorilies,  and  shall  pay 
deference  to  their  requisilions. 

142.  The  dweliiníT  of  the  officer  of  the  Rural  Pólice  shall 
be  íixed  in  the  centre  of  his  Seclion,  and  near  the  public  road 
which  traversos  il. 

143.  The  oílicer  of  the  Rural  Pólice  is  especially  charged 
to  catise  agricnhnrc  to  pro^^per  in  ihe  Section  coníided  to  hinr, 
and  to  cause  the  law  and  property  lo  be  there  respected.  He 
is  responsiblc,  in  iheextent  of  his  Seclion,  1.  for  the  due  exe- 
cution  of  the  Rural  Codo  in  what  is  withiii  his  province,  as 
well  as  all  otheracts  of  the  Government  relalive  lo  the  agricul- 
ture,  or  the  Rural  Pólice.  2.  For  every  ncglect  in  the  super- 
inlendence  of  and  manual  labour  of  the  plantations  of  the  Sec- 
lion. 3.  For  all  vagrancics,  disorders,  and  breadles  of  Pólice 
in  the  Section,  when  he  has  not  repressed  them,  or  reported 
Ihem  lo  the  superior  authoriiy.  He  shall  lake  an  oalh  before 
the  Comtnandanl  of  the  District,  previous  to  entering  on  the 
dulies  of  his  office. 

144.  The  Officer  of  the  Rural  Pólice  shall  havc  under  his 
orders,  at  a  fixed  station,  threc  rural  guards,  one  oí  whom 
shall  be  of  the  rank  of  quartermaslcr,  and  perform  the  func- 
tions  of  secretary  ;  one  of  the  rank  of  brigadier  ;  and  the 
olher  a  simple  dragoon.  These  rural  guards  shall  be  sworn  ; 
ihe  oath  shall  be  taken  before  the  Commandant  of  the  Depart- 
ment. 

145.  The  officer  of  the  Rural  Pólice  shall  be  bound  to  make 
ihe  circuit  of  his  Seclion,  and  visit  each  plantation  in  it  once  a 
week. 

146.  The  officer  of  the  Rural  Pólice  shall  be  ready  to  at- 
tend  lo  the  calis  of  the  proprielorí^,  renlers,  or  managcrs  of 
plantations,  by  day  and  by  nighi,  or  lo  scnd  rural  guards  there 
lo  enforce  the  law,  and  to  maintain  order. 

147.  One  of  the  rural  guards  shall  rcpcat  every  week,  on 
each  plantation  of  the  Section,  the  visit  of  the  officer  of  the 
Rural  Pólice,  so  thai  the  plantations  shall  be  visiled  al  the  least 
calcidalion  twice  every  week. 

148.  When  the  officers  of  the  Rural  Pólice,  or  the  rural 
guards,  in  their  ordinary  rounds,  shall  arrive  upon  a  planta- 
tion, they  shall  address  them.selves  first  to  the  proprietor,    if 


í.'!  liniAL  coui;  oF  haI'I'í. 

prcsenl,  or  in  iiis  absonce,  lo  tlie  cliief  renter,  or  to  the  mana" 
^er,  aiicl  *liall  iuquiíe  if  every  ihing  i.s  in  order  :  aflcr  lliis  for- 
maliiy,  iliey  sliall  sel  lliciiiselves  lo  inspecl  ihe  laboiirs,  lo  sa- 
tisfy  ihciiiiselves  tlial  ihese  proceed  properl_v  ;  ihcy  sliall  alsp 
sce  whellicr  all  ihe  labourers  are  at  woik  ;  and  lliey  shall  in- 
qiiire  ihe  causes  of  ilie  absence  of  sucli  as  are  nol  al  work,  and 
sliall  acl  accoidmg  lo  ]aw. 

149.  When  an  oñicer  oí  ihe  Rural  Pólice  of  ll)e  Seclion,  is 
prevenled  by  any  lawful  cause  iVom  inakingthe  circuit  and  visit 
rcquired  by  anieles  145  and  146,  he  siíall  be  bound  lo  give  no- 
lice  ihereof  lo  ihe  Coinmandanl  of  llie  Commune,  who  shall 
replace  liim  by  an  oíricer  ol  ihe  gend'armerie,  or  of  ihe  Iroops 
ofllieline  quariered  in  ihe  Cunimune,  while  ihe  impediment 
lasls. 

150.  The  officer  of  ihe  Rural  Pólice,  who,  wilhout  lawful 
hinderance,  shall  ncglecl  lo  rnake  ihe  rounds  and  visilsrequired 
by  ihe  anides  145  and  146,  shall  sutfer  a  punishtnent,  lo  be  in- 
ílicied  by  ihe  Commandaní  of  ihe  Coinmune  ;  and  in  case  of  his 
repealing  ihe  neglecl,  he  shall  be  reported  lo  ihe  Commandant 
of  ihe  Deparlment,  who  shall  be  bound  lo  bring  him  lo  ihe  no- 
tice  of  ihe  President  of  Haíii. 

151.  Ev(?ry  Sunday  niorning,  ihe  oíiicer  of  ihe  Rural  Pólice 
shall  be  bound  lo  presenl  hin:)self  in  person,  or  send  one  of  his 
rural  guurds,  wiih  a  vvrillcn  report,  lo  the  Commandaní  of  ihe 
Coniniune,  lo  inform  him  of  whaiever  remarkable  may  have 
occnrred  in  his  seclion. 

152.  The  officer  of  ihe  Rural  Pólice,  and  ihe  rural  guards, 
shall  receive  iheir  pay  and  allowances,  according  lo  iheir 
ranks,  vvhenever  ihe  lioops  of  ihe  hne  in  aclual  service  shall 
be  paid. 

153.  The  Siale  shall  supply  lo  ihe  rural  guards  arms,  ac- 
coulremenls,  andclolhing,  as  lo  ihe  troops  of  ihe  line.i 

154.  The  uniform  of  ihe  officer  of  ihe  Rural  Pólice,  shall 
be  a  green  coal,  wilh  flaps  lurned  back,  collar,  cuíTs,  and  facings 
red,  whiie  lining,  while  biUlons  half  arched,  wilh  a  cornucopia 
surrounded  by  ihe  cap  of  liberly,  and  for  a  legend,  Repiiblique 
(T  Haití,  and  a  cocked  hal.  They  shall  also  bear  in  si  I  ver  ihe 
epauleiles  and  fringes  of  iheir  ranks,  wear  while  waislcoats 
and  panialoons,  and  horsemen's  bools.  Tljal  of  ihe  rural  guards 
shall  be  a  jackcl  of  ihe  same  colour  and  makc  as  ihe  officers  of 
ihe  Rural  Pólice,  wilh  ihe  marks  of,  iheir  ranks  in  lace  of 
silver  or  while  worsled,  and  plaled  helmets.  1'he  arms  shall 
be  ihe  dragoon  sabré,  carlouche-box,  and  blunderbuss ;  ihey 
shall  wear  a  red  shoulder  bell  from  righl  lo  lefi,  wilh  ''forcé 
de  la  loi,  wriuen  upon  it  in  blue  lelters. 


IIUÍIAL  CODE  OV  HAiTI.  25 

Sect.  3. —  Of  Manaprers  and  Conductor s  of  Plantations, 

155.  Upon  every  plantalion  where  ihe  proprietor  is  not 
residenl,  and  where  ihere  is  no  cliief  renler  residen!,  ihci-e 
shall  be  a  manager  appointcd  by  tiic  proprietor  or  chief 
renler. 

156.  The  proprietor  or  chieí"  renler,  afler  having  chosen  such 
maoager  as  he  picases,  shal!  enler  inlo  a  mutual  contract  wiih 
him,  before  a  notary,  ihe  lernfis  being  such  as  ihe  partios  may 
agree  upon:  afier  which  ihe  manager  shall  be  made  known  lo 
ihe  officer  of  the  Rural  Pólice  of  ihe  Seclion. 

157.  Every  proprietor,  or  cUief  renler  of  a  rural  propeity  in 
cullivalion,  not  residing  upon  il,  nnd  who  shall  not  have  appoint- 
ed  a  mannger  for  ihe  properly,  shall  be  subject,  if  the  nuniber  of 
cullivators  exceed  ten,  to  a  fine  of  from  len  to  fifly  dollars, 
according  lo  the  exleni  of  the  property.  Wlien  the  number  of 
laborers  does  not  exceed  ten,  the  management  may  be  inlrusted 
lo  a  conductor. 

158.  The  duties  of  the  n)anager  are  lo  snperintend,  in  the 
inlerest  of  ihe  proprietor  who  employs  him,  ihe  laborers  of  the 
plantalion  inlrusted  to  him. 

159.  The  managers  of  plantations  are  answerable  tolhe  pro- 
prieiors,  or  chief  renlers,  for  every  neglcct  or  abandonmcnt  of 
labor  where  ihey  are  employed.  They  shall  in  such  case  be 
prosecuted  by  the  parties  eiilitled. 

160.  The  manager  shall  have  the  respect  of  all  the  laborers 
of  the  estale  where  he  is  employed. 

161.  Upon  an  estale  where  the  fields  or  gardens  are  divided 
among  associations  working  for  half,  or  among  sub-lenanls, 
each  headman  of  such  associalion,  and  each  sub-lenant,  be- 
comes  the  conductor  of  his  own  working  parly,  or  of  his  asso- 
cialion.    He  is  answerable  for  the  labor  of  his  associates. 

162.  The  duties  of  the  conduclors  are,  to  cause  ihe  work  lo 
be  done,  by  ihc  laboring  parties  inlrusted  lo  ihem,  under  the 
direction  of  the  proprietor,  chief  renler,  or  manager. 

163.  The  conduclors  shall  be  answerable  for  all  neglect 
of  work;  for  all  absence,  without  lawful  authorily,  of  ihe  la- 
borers ;  and  for  all  disorders  and  vagrancies  of  the  laborers ; 
when  ihey  shall  not  have  reponed  the  same  to  the  competent 
aulhorilies. 

164.  The  conduclors  shall  be  paid  from  the  proceeds  of  the 
produce  raised  by  the  laborers  ihey  direct,  according' lo  article 
57,  oflaw  No.  3. 

4 


■26  ni'UAL  conE  of  íiaiti. 

Chapter  IV. 

Of  tke  Cowicil  of  Agricullure  in  Ihe  Rural  Seciioiis. 

165.  On  ihe  firsl  of  May  in  every  year,  being  the  day  of  tlie 
Festival  of  Agricullure,  ihe  Commandant  of  each  Commune, 
ihe  Justice  cf  Peace,  and  the  Council  of  Notables,  shall  con- 
jointly  select  froin  eacli  RuraT  Section,  three  of  the  most  respect- 
able  citizens,  being  proprietors,  chief  renlcrs,  or  managers,  to 
form  the  Council  of  Agnculture  of  ihe  Seclion. 

166.  The  selectioii  of  the  members  of  the  Council  ( f  Agri- 
culture  shall  be  immediately  commiinicaled,  by  the  Command- 
ant of  the  Coinmune,  to  the  Commandant  of  the  Department, 
who  shall  communicate  it  lo  the  Government. 

167.  The  members  of  ihe  Council  of  Agricullure  shall  be  in- 
office  for  ene  year  only  ;  bul  they  may  be  re-elecled  each  year, 
if  they  have  sbown  zeal  in  the  execulion  of  iheir  dulies  during 
ihe  former  year. 

168.  The  Council  of  Agriculliire  being  composed  of  per- 
sons  cultivating  the  soil,  and  inteicsted  in  tlie  preservation  of 
good  order  in  the  rural  administration,  each  of  the  members  is 
bound,  wilhout  essentially  deranging  his  own  affairs,  lo  inquire 
into  ail  ihat  passes  in  his  Section,  in  order  to  report  to  the  Coun- 
cil cf  ÍSütables. 

169.  7'he  business  of  the  Councils  of  Agriculture  is,  1.  To 
see  ihat  the  laws  relating  to  cultivation,  are  nol  infringed  in 
iheir  execulion.  2.  To  endeavor,  by  new  experiments,  and 
by  maintaining  concord  among  al!  those  interesied  in  culliva- 
tion,  lo  increase  progressively  its  resulls.  3.  To  communicate 
to  the  Council  of  Notables,  and  to  ihe  military  aulhoiities, 
every  abuse  or  neglect,  which  may  occur  in  ihe  Seclion  whicb 
ihey  inhábil. 

170.  The  members  of  the  Council  of  Agricullure  are  to  cor- 
respond,  individually  or  collectively,  with  the  functionaries  or 
authorities  with  whom  they  are  required  lo  have  relations. 

171.  The  office  of  a  member  of  ihe  Council  of  Agricullure 
is  honorary. 

TiTLE    TlIIRD. 

Of  the  Rural  Pólice. 

172.  The  Rural  Pólice  is  lo  be  specially  adminislered  by  the- 
officers  charged  wiih  the  Rural  Sections  of  the  Communes, 
assisted  by  rural  guards. 

173.  The  Rural  Pólice  has  for  its  objecls,  1,  To  repress 
vagrancy.  2.  Order  and  assiduily  in  ihe  labors  of  the  field. 
3.  The  discipline  of  the  laboring  population.  4.  The  inaUing 
and  repairing  public  and  prívale  road.s. 


IllJK.VL    CODE    OF    HAITÍ.  27 

Chapter  i. 

Of  fhe  Repressvm  of  Vagrancy. 

174.  AU  persons  ulio  shall  not  be  proprietors,  or  lenters  of 
the  land  on  which  they  are  íixed,  or  vvlio  shall  not  have  con- 
Iracted  with  some  proprietor  or  chief  renter,  shall  be  reputad 
vagrants,  and  shall  be  arrested  by  ihe  Rural  Pólice  of  the 
í^eciion  in  which  they  may  be  found,  and  carried  before  the 
Juslicc  of  Peace  of  the  Commune. 

17;3.  The  Jusiice  of  Peacc,  aftcr  interrogaiing  and  hearing 
the  "person  brought  before  him,  shall  niakc  known  the  law 
which  übüges  him  lo  employ  hiinself  in  agricultural  labor ; 
and  after  tbat  notice,  he  shalí  detain  him  in  prison,  until  he 
shall  have  contracted  according  lo  the  terms  of  the  law. 

176.  The  Jusiice  of  Peace  shall  take  care  the  person  ar- 
xcsled  shall  niake  his  own  choice  of  ihc  proprietor,  or  chief 
renler,  or  sub-tcnant,  or  beadman  of  an  associalion,  wilh  whom 
he  may  conlract. 

177.  If  after  eighldays'delcnlion,  ihe  dclained  has  not  taken 
measures  for  engaging  in  agricultural  employment,  he  shall  be 
sent  lo  ihe  public  works,  lor  cleaning  ihe  city  or  lown  Avhere 
the  pnson  is  siluated,  and  there  he  shall  l:e  employed  unlil  he 
determines  lo  conlract  lo  engage  in  rural  labor.  Any  person 
•who  wiihdraws  any  of  ihese  detained  persons  from  ihc  public 

works,  to  employ  them  in  privale  work,  shall  be  subjcct  to  a 
ñne  of  fifi  y  dollars,  of  which  a  moietv  shall  be  paid  lo  the  de- 
tained person  complaining. 

178.  If  ihe  person  arrested  be  a  minor,  the  Jusiice  of  Peace 
shall  inquire  for  his  parenls,  and  send  him  to  join  ihem,  to  follow 
their  condition  of  life. 

179.  After  ihree  months  from  tlie  publicalion  of  this  Code, 
rigor  shall  be  employed  again¿l  delinquenls. 

l.'^O.  Every  person  fixed  in  the  counlry  as  a  cultivalor,  who 
shall  on  a  working  day,  and  during  the  hours  of  labor,  be  found 
unemployed,  orrunning  aboul,  or  lounging  on  the  public  roads, 
shall  be  considered  as  idle,  and  shall  in  conscquence  be  ar- 
rested and  taken  before  the  Jusiice  of  Peace,  who  shall  send 
him  to  prison  for  twenty-four  hours,  for  the  first  offence  ;  and 
shall  send  him  to  public  labor  in  the  lown  on  a  repetition 
of  it. 

181.  The  officers  of  the  Rural  Pólice,  shall  take  care  that 
vagrants  and  idlers  do  not  conceal  themselves  under  the  garb 
of  soldicrs  of  the  different  corps.  When  they  discover,  in 
the  Sections  under  their  superintendence,  men  whom  they 
-do    not  personallv   know  to  be  in  active   service  in  the  corpE 


28  RURAL    CODE    OF    IIAITI. 

whose  uniform  they  wear,  ihey  .«hall  arrest  tliem,  and  send  them 
to  the  military  commandant  of  ilie  commune,  to  ascertain  if 
the  individual  arrested  wiih  the  uniform  of  a  corps  really  belongs 
lo  it.  If  the  party  pvove  not  to  be  a  soldier,  he  shall  be  piit  in 
prison,  according  to  Article  175,  until  he  cnler  into  a  contract 
to  labor  in  agriculture. 

182.  The  officers  of  the  Rural  Pólice,  shall  take  care  that  in 
the  respective  Sections  under  iheir  command,  no  pcrson  shall 
livc  in  idleness.  To  this  end,  they  have  authority  to  oblige 
such  persons  as  are  employed  in  labor,  to  give  account  of  tíie 
nature  of  their  occiipations  ;  and  if  they  cannot  prove  that  they 
cultívate  the  soil,  or  are  employed  on  breeding  farras,  according 
to  the  Lavv  No.  IV.,  they  shall  be  considered  as  without  a 
living,  and  shall  be  arrested  as  vagrants. 

Chapter  II. 

Of  order  and  assiduity  in  rural  labor. 

183.  The  labors  of  the  field  shall  commence  on  Monday 
morning,  not  to  cease  until  Friday  evening,  (legal  holydays 
excepted).  But  in  extraordinary  cases,  when  the  interest  of  the 
cultivators  as  well  as  of  the  proprietors  reqnires  it,  work  shall 
be  continued  until  ÍSatiirday. 

184.  On  working-days,  the  ordinary  labor  of  the  field  shall 
commence  at  day-dawn,  and  continué  until  mid-day,  with  the 
interval  of  half  an  hour  for  breakfast,  which  shall  be  taken  on 
the  spot  where  they  are  at  worL  In  the  afternoon,  ihe  labor 
shall  commence  ai  two  o'clock,  to  continué  until  sunset. 

185.  Pregnant  females  shall  be  employed  onlight  work  only, 
and  afterlhe  fourlh  monthof  pregnancy,  they  shall  not  be  Hable 
lo  work  in  the  field. 

186.  Four  months  after  deliverjr,  they  shall  be  bound  to 
resume  labor ;  but  they  shall  not  be  at  work  until  one  hour 
after  sun-rise,  to  quit  it  at  eleven  o'clock,  and  from  two  o'clock 
until  one  hour  before  sunset, 

187.  No  eultivator  fixed  on  a  rural  property,  shall  absent 
himself  from  ihe  labor  assigned  him,  without  the  permission 
of  the  manager,  in  the  absence  of  the  proprietor  or  chief 
renter,  who  shall  not  give  this  permission  unless  the  case  be 
urgent. 

Chapter  Til. 

Of  tJif,  discipline  of  the  laborers. 

188.  The  laborers  upon  rural  properties  shall  be  obedienl 
lo  ihc  conductors  of  the  woi-ka,   to  the   headmen  of   associa- 


RURAL  CODE   OF  HAITÍ.  29 

tions,  to  ihe  sub-tenants,  chief  renters,  proprietors,  andniHim- 
gers,  vvhenever  ihey  are  called  upou  lo  exccute  ihe  labora  for 
wliich  they  have  cunlraclcd. 

189.  Every  act  of  disobedience  or  insult,  on  thc  part  of  a 
workmaii,  commanded  to  do  any  work  which  he  has  cngaged  to 
do  by  a  reciprocal  contract  or  agreement,  shall  be  punished 
by  imprisonment,  according  to  the  exigency  of  the  case, 
and  according  to  the  decisión  of  the  Juslice  of  Peace  of  the 
Communc. 

190.  Salurdays,  Sundays,  and  Hoh'days,  being  at  the  dispo- 
sal  of  the  cultivators,  they  shall  nut  be  pcrmitled,  oii  working 
days  to  quit  thcir  work,  to  indulge  in  dancing  or  feasting, 
neither  by  night  ñor  by  day.  Ofl'enders  against  ihis  rule, 
shall  be  subject  to  three  days'  imprisonment  for  the  first  offence, 
and  to  six  days  for  a  rcpetition  of  it. 

Chapter  IV^.  . 
On  thc  t?iak¿íig  and  repmiing  Public  Roads. 

191.  Thc  public  roads  shall  be  kept  up  and  rc})aired  by 
the  laborers,  in  turn,  of  tbe  vvhole  ¡Section  they  pass  through, 
whenever  their  slate  of  injury  may  vequire  repair.  The  pri- 
vate  roads  shall  in  like  manner  be  kept  in  order  by  the  cnl- 
tivators  of  ihe  eslates  of  the  Section,  who  aro  in  the  habit  of 
using  them. 

192.  Whenever  a  public  or  private  road  needs  repair,  the 
officer  of  the  Rural  Pólice  shall  give  nolicc  of  it  to  the  Com- 
mandant  of  ihe  Commune. 

193.  If  the  repairs  are  of  small  importance,  the  Com- 
mandant  of  the  Commune  shall  order  them  to  be  done.  But 
if  they  require  many  hands,  he  shall  give  notice  of  it  to  ihe 
Comraandant  of  thc  Department,  that  it  may  be  promptly 
acceleratcd.  The  Conncil  of  Agriculture  of  the  ¡Section  shall 
inform  the  Council  of  Notables  of  the  work  which  is  lo  be 
done. 

194.  The  nnmbcr  of  laborers  necessary  for  any  particular 
repair,  shall  be  taken  from  the  plantation  rolls  menlioned  in 
article  132,  in  proportion  to  the  laboring  population  of  Cach, 
which  is  bound  to  assist  in  thc  work. 

195.  Those  proprietors  who  have  not  four  laborers  at- 
lached  to  their  estáte,  shall,  in  no  case,  furnish  more  ihaii  onc 
laborcr  for  the  repairs  of  roads. 

196.  Every  cultivator  ordercd  to  work  in  repairing  thc 
roads,  who  shall  not  come  to  that  work,  shall  ])ay  a  ñne  of  six 
quarter  dollars  a  week,  or  be  imprisoned  for  one  vveek,  and 
this  shall  not  exempt  him  from  working  tlic  week   following. 


30  RURAL    CODE  OF  HAITÍ. 

197.  Every  proprietor,  or  chief  renter  of  a  plantation,  who 
liaving  received  a  demand  for  laborers,  shall  not  funiish 
tliom,  shall  be  Hable  to  a  fine  of  three  dollars  for  each  laborar 
not  furnished  ;  half  the  fine  to  be  paid  lo  the  chest  of  fines, 
and  half  lo  be  employed  in  replacing  the  laborers. 

198.  Laborers  called  out  to  repair  the  roads,  shall  bring 
ihe  tools  and  agricultura}  instruments  used  on  the  plantation, 
otherwise  the  oííicer  of  the  Rural  Pólice  shall  furnish  thein 
wilh  tools  with  wliich  he  is  to  be  supplied  by  the  administra- 
tion,  and  upon  the  report  of  its  being  raade  to  the  Justice  of 
Peace  of  the  Commune,  he  shall  sentence  the  proprietor  of 
ihe  plantation  to  which  the  defaulters  naay  belong,  or  his  re- 
presentative,  to  reimburse  to  the  administxation  double  the  valué 
of  the  tools  fLirnished. 

199.  When  means  of  iranspoit  are  wanted  for  the  repair 
of  public  or  prívale  roads,  the  estates  having  wains  or  caris 
shall  send  them ;  in  default  of  wains  or  caris,  caltle  shall  be 
supplied. 

200.  The  supply  of  eight  beasts  of  burden,  shall  be  equal 
to  one  cart  with  its  team. 

201.  No  person  shall,  for  his  prívate  interest,  take  from 
the  repair  of  the  roads,  those  who  are  sent  lo  vvork  upon  them. 
Every  one  contravening  ihis  order  shall  pay  fifty  dollars  for 
each  laborer  so  withdravvn,  even  for  one  day.  The  director  of 
the  work  shall  cali  over  ihe  laborers  every  morning,  to  ascertain 
iheii  presence. 

202.  The  laborers  ordered  on  the  public  roads,  shall  pre- 
sent  themselves  on  Monday  morning,  and  not  lo  quit  whilethe 
work  shall  last,  until  Friday  evening. 

Passed  in  the  Charaber  of  commons,  at  Port-au-Prince,  on 
the  21st  of  April,  1826,  28d  year  of  Independence. 

MuzAiNF,  President  of  the  Chamber. 
Pre.  Junga,  andAíiDouiN,  Secretarles. 

The  Senate  decrees  the  acceptance  of  the  Rural  Code  of 
Haití,  which  shall  be  sent,  within  Iwenty-four  hours,  to  the 
President  of  Haili,  lo  have  his  execution,  in  the  manner  fixed 
by  ilie  Constitution.  At  the  National  House  at  Port-au-Prince, 
Ihis  4th  of  May,  1826,  23d  year  of  Independence. 

P.  RouANEz,  President  of  the  Senate, 
Gayot,  and  F.  Dubreuil,  Secretaries. 


RURAL  COÜE   Oí-    IIAITI.  31 

tn  fhe  ñame  of  tlie  Republic. 

The  President  of  Haíti  orders,  lliat  the  al)ove  Laws  con- 
slitiiting  the  Rural  Code  of  Haíti  be  sealcd  vvith  the  Seal  of 
the  Republic,  and  be  published  and  executed. 

Given  at  the  National  Palace  of  Port-au-Prince,  this  6th  of 
May,  1826,  23d  year  of  Jndependence. 

BOYER. 

By  the  President,  B.  Inginac,  Secretary-General. 


LETTERS  ON  HAITÍ. 


The  Lelters  which  follow  are  from  the  Working  Man's  Ad- 
vócale, the  editor  of  which  paper  introduces  the  first  of  them 
by  saying — "  The  following  leller  from  an  inteUigent  and  phi- 
lanihropic  soulhern  genileman  (ihough  a  large  slaveholder)  now 
travelhng  in  Haiii,  will  doublless  convey  niuch  information  lo 
our  readers  respecling  the  present  pohtical  condiiion  and  natu- 
ral advanlages  of  ihat  inieresting  ísland.  The  statenients  of 
the  writer  may  be  implicilly  relied  on." 

LETTER  I. 

Puerto  de  Plato,  Haiti,   ISth  Sepi.,  1835. 
Mr.  George  H.  Evans  : 

Dear  Sir — When  I  left  New  York,  about  a  uionlh  ago,with 
the  iniention  of  spending  the  hot  season  of  suminer  under  the 
cool  shade  of  the  planiaiii  and  royal  palm-lrees,  fanned  by  the 
sea  bicezes  of  the  lieahhy  and  tempérale  climate  of  Haili,  I 
promiscd  lo  convey  lo  you,  as  soon  and  as  inlelhgibly  as  I 
could,  a  Irne  dcscriplion  of  whi\t  I  saw  in  my  progreás  ihrough 
this  Island  ofLibeily,  which,  allhough  hardly  two  weeks'  sail- 
fromTsew  York,  musí  bccomc  of  greal  })ohiical  imporlance,  bul 
is  now  quite  unknown  oven  by  ñame,  lo  nine-lenths  of  our  New 
York  citizens. 

On  the  3d  inst,  being  ncarly  20*^  N.lat.,  wc  madc  the  Island 
of  Haili.  Il  resembled  liie  Caiskill  moiunains,  only  more  ex- 
tended.    On   the  4th  we   sailed  inlo  a  harbour  on  its  N.  sidc,- 


:Í2  LKTTERS     UÜ    HAITÍ. 

called  Puerto  de  Plata,  where  we  found  American  and  foreigil 

í^liipping  anchored  befoce  a  prelly,  scallered-looking  small  town 
of  oiic  siorj'  honses,  somelhing  aboul  ihe  size  of  8t  Augustine. 

We  landed  soon  afler,  amidsl  logs  of  mahogany,  in  which,  and 
lobacco  in  bales,  tnost  of  its  export  consists.  The  poor  ap- 
pearance  of  ihe  lown  was  amply  compeiiáated  for  by  ihe  rich 
verdure  of  ihe  waving  cocoa-nut  and  naajeslic  palm-trees,  grow- 

ng  on  ihe  genily  rising  plain  which  lies  beiween  the  town  and 
the  mounlain,  (called  Torre  de  Isabella,)  nnajeslically  rising 
behind  il,  lo  ihe  height  of  ihree  thousand  feet,  and  richly  cover- 
cd  wilh  trecs  to  the  lop. 

This  aft.ernoon  and  next  day,  T  was  occupied  in  walking 
aboul  lown,  and  gardens  in  iis  vicinily,  and  in  cultivating  the 
acquainiance  of  ils  inhabitants,  who  received  me  as  a  whiie 
slranger,  wilh  great  civility  as  well  as  hospilalily.  They  con- 
sisled  of  while  and  black,  (ihe  laller  predominated,)  speaking 
Spanish,  French,  and  English,  as  languages  common  lo  all,  ihe 
Spanish  rallier  ihe  mosl,  and  ihe  wliile  parí  of  the  populalion 
very  mnch  resembled  ihe  Minorcian  populalion  of  St.  Augus- 
tine. The  beauliful  and  nch  plain  on  which  the  town  is  bui  t, 
of  ivvo  miles  in  exlenl  and  gradually  rising  lo  ihe  foot  of  ihe 
mounlain  of  La  Torree,  contains  firsl  the  lown  and  gardens, 
and  ihen  some  small  farms,  cuhivaled  wilh  sugar  cañe,  coífee, 
oranges,  mangoes,  corn,  yams,  polaioes,  cassava,  and  all  kinds 
of  fancy  produce,  to  snit  the  market  and  for  the  supply  of  the 
lown.  The  low  lands  beiween  ihe  sea  and  the  mountains,  ex- 
lend  lo  the  easl  and  lo  the  wesl  as  far  as  the  eye  can  reach  ; 
and  if  the  soil  is  a  fair  sample  of  the  soil  of  ihis  Island,  which, 
from  all  ihat  I  can  hear,  is  probable,  ihere  is  nolhinglhal  I  have 
ever  seen  in  any  counlry,  not  even  the  low  lands  of  the  Missis- 
sippi,  ñor  ihe  alluvial  deposiis  of  Guiana  in  Soulli  America, 
equal  lo  ilin  ferliHly.  The  sugar  cañe  grows  to  a  prodigious 
size,  and  lasls  for  Iwenty  years  withoul  replanting.  The  plan- 
tain,  as  food  for  man,  is  ihe  richest  of  nature's  gifls,  and  also 
perpetuales  ilself,  wilh  lillle  allenlion,  for  an  equal  period  of  lime 
wilhoul  replanting.  Groves  of  cocoa-nul  and  royal  palm-trees, 
the  most  rnagniíicent  of  nature's  produclions,  shade  the  ground 
wilh  llieir  waving  lops,  and  furnish  food  for  counlless  numbers 
of  wild  hogs,  callle,  &c.,  wnld  guinea  fowls  are  also  very  abun- 
dant.  fith  Seplember,  being  Suiíday,  I  this  morning  went  to 
hear  mass  performed  in  a  very  large  church  of  one  slory,  which 
safe  mode  of  building,  I  presume,  is  on  account  of  earthquakes 
that  sometimes  happen  here.  The  audience  was  large  and 
most  respectable,  the  female  part  especially  was  devout,  and 


LETTERS  ON  HAYTI.  33 

would  bear  comparison,  in  poinl  of  good  looks  or  dress,  with 
any  of  our  white  congregaiions  in  i\ew  York.  In  the  evening 
I  went  to  hear  an  oíd  style  Meihodist  sermón,  by  an  English 
m¡ssionary>  where  most  of  our  poor  American  colored  emi»- 
grants  were  assembled,  to  heai*  ihemselves  denounced  as  fit 
subjects  for  a  very  necessar}^  personage,  now  dormant  in  fash» 
ionable  Ufe  ;  but  all  went  off  well :  we  liad  no  mob. 

18lh.  I  have  now  becn  here  ten  da3^s,  and  liave  closely  exa- 
mincd  the  country  on  horscback,  for  Iwelve  leagues  of  coast 
and  three  leagues  inland,  to  the  summit  ridges,  where  they 
cut  mahogany  ;  no  sentry  has  ever  iiailed  me;  no  olficer  of 
pólice  has  ever  inquired  inlo  my  bnsiness,  or  vvhat  I  wanled. 
I  brought  no  leller  of  introduction :  whichever  way  I  Ira- 
vclled,  I  have  been  lieated  wiih  hospitality  nnd  attenlion, 
and  all  possible  kinduess  rendered  lo  n)e  volunlarily  and 
wilhout  reward.  I  have  liad  a  hearly  wclcome  cvery  where, 
abundance  lo  cal,  and  a  place  lo  hang  my  hammock  al  night, 
from  black  and  poor  colored  people,  who  live  isolaled,  upon 
small  farms  of  one  famüy,  scallered  wiihin  the  rich,  uncut 
fore^ls  of  Haiii,  where  iheir  living  in  simple  abundance  and 
wilh  little  labor  does  not  detract  froin  llieir  natural  kindness  of 
heart,  which  sustains  iheir  praciical  moral  mcrii  of  character ; 
for  nolwitlistanding  our  fashionable  propensily  for  vilifying 
the  meril  of  color,  no  one  has  ever  ciled  one  soliiary  insiancc 
of  a  breach  of  honesly,  or  honorable  hospiíalily  to  any  white 
man  or  otlier  person.  A  single  unarmed  foolman  is  the  otily 
conveyance  of  money  remiilances  from  here  to  Port-au-Prince, 
a  distance  of  nearly  one  hundred  leagues,  mostlv  through 
solitary  woods  ;  bul  no  instance  is  rccorded  of  eilher  robbery, 
murder,  or  insull.  Furlher  commenl  upon  natural  kitidness  of 
heart  is  needless.  I  have  not  heard  of  any  other  insiance 
similar  in  any  country,  or  under  any  governtnent — here  every 
appearance  indicates  perfect  freedom  and  equalily  witlioul  law 
or  re¿lraini ;  yet  no  one  trespasses  upon  the  strictesi  laws  of 
decorum  and  poliiet)ess. 

Many  of  our  pseudo  rcpublicans  openly  abuse  Haili,  its 
people  and  government ;  bul  here  they  read  our  newspapers, 
and  daily  accounts  of  mobs,  and  persecuiion  of  color,  without 
any  symptorn  of  resentment  or  angcr  against  the  cilizons  of 
those  vciy  couniries  where  their  color  is  outlawed,  and  wlio 
enjoy  every  proieciion,  both  of  person  and  property,  in  Haiti. 
Although  many  familias  heie  are  white  in  all  their  relaiions, 
I  have  never  seen  ñor  heard  of  any  slighi  or  symptorn  of  «a» 
tural  prejudice  againsl  color  :  indeed,  as  a  whiie  man,  I  feel 

5 


34  LETTERS  ON  HAITÍ. 

ashamed  lo  receive  such  kindness  and  hospitality  from  the  very 
people,  whorn  piiblic  prejudice,  or  ralher  fashion  or  jealousy,  ir> 
New  York,  would  exelude  from  oblaining  necesáary  refresh- 
ment  al  an  inn,  or  fiom  travelling  in  any  public  conveyance 
or  vehicle,  or  even  lo  walk  the  sireets  but  as  ouilawed  mis- 
créanla.  The  stale  of  sociely  here  proves  very  clearly  lo  me, 
that  oLir  main  argiiment  to  excuse  our  persecuiion  of  color, 
(natural  prejudice  of  caste,)  if  unsupported  by  law,  soon  mells, 
and  is  dissolved  by  our  moral  relaiions,  if  let  alone,  like  any 
other  legal  privilege.  Privileged  grades  of  sociely  are  neces- 
sary  lo  the  existence  of  a  regal  arislocracy,  or  of  a  popular 
democracy  or  oligarchy  :  annul  ihe  privileges  and  tliese  govern- 
raents  become  republican,  or  of  equal  laws,  This  government 
of  Haili  approaches  nearer  lo  puré  republicanism  than  any 
other,  now  in  use  or  on  record.  Ahhough  ilie  aggrcgate  popu- 
lation  of  ihis  island  may  approach  lowards  a  million  of  people, 
yet  it  is  hardly  possible  lo  íind  a  servanl  lo  hire,  vvhich  is  easy 
to  account  for  from  ihe  circumstance  thai  every  colored  person 
of  good  characier  is  a  citizeñ  from  ihe  moment  of  liis  arrival, 
and  upon  applicalion  to  llie  Commandanl,  can  have  as  much 
good  íand,  gratis,  from  government,  as  lie  thinks  he  can  culti- 
vate  ;  therefore  no  one  will  hiie,  and  the  qiiantity  of  popula- 
tion  and  small  farms  of  one  fauíily  each,  iü  fast  increasing, 
To  gain  Information  where  every  thing  is  new,  J  have  reposed 
bul  litlle  in  the  shade  since  my  arrival,  but  the  air  is  delighl- 
fully  cool  every  nighl  and  morning,  and  during  the  day,  while 
travelling,  I  have  suffered  but  hule  from  heai,  as  our  roads 
lay  ihrough  lofty  ihick  woods,  the  shade  of  which  completely 
excluded  the  solar  rays.  We  generally  have  had  a  refreshing 
shower  every  day.  and  I  feel  my  iieallh  much  improved  since 
my  airival  from  New  York,  ñor  can  I  iiear  of  a  single  inslance 
of  sickness  any  vihere,  ahhough  this  is  called  the  sickly 
season  ;  and  if  I  can  judge  from  the  number  of  children  playing 
aboul  m  the  slreeis  and  houses,  the  population  musí  be  in- 
creasing  very  rapidly.  In  a  few  days  1  propose  coniinuing 
my  journey  wesl,  lowards  Cape  Haitien,  formerly  Cape 
Franjáis,  and  wil!,  from  ihence,  commimicale  whal  may  seem 
new. 

I  remain,  &c. 


LETTER3  ON  HAITÍ.  35 

LETTER  II. 

Cape  Hailieiiy  29th  Sept.  1835. 
Mk.  George  II.  Evans, 

Dear  ¡Sir, — In  my  last  letter,  from  Puerto  de  Plata,  I  en 
deavored  lo  give  you  a  sliorl  descripiion  of  llial  place  and  its 
viciiiiiy.  Since  ihal  time  I  have  rodé  on  horseback,  in  corn- 
pany  vvilh  ene  person  and  a  guide,  lo  this  place,  where  I  now 
ain  in  gQod  lieahli,  a  distance  of  iwo  liundred  miles  or  more, 
cliiefly  wiihin  a  few  miles  of  l!ie  coast,  ilirough  an  uninler- 
rupted  scenery  of  the  most  romantic  order,  sometimes  over 
ievel  and  very  extensiva  prairie  paslurages,  woll  peopled  wilh 
ihe  finest  catile  I  ever  saw,  mixed  here  and  ihere  with  flocks 
x)f  sheep  and  goats,  and  every  where  aboiinding  witli  wild 
guine;i  fowls;  at  other  times  we  crossed  clear  and  rapid 
streams  of  water,  coinnig  from  boiween  the  mountains,  silu- 
ated  a  few  miles  furiher  in  the  interior,  and  of  a  height  sel- 
dom  Icss  ihan  one,  or  more  than  ihree  thoasand  feet,  and 
thickly  wooded  lo  the  lop.  This  space  between  the  sea  and 
liie  moiintains,  of  abotit  iwo  or  ihree  leagues  wide,  is  a  rich 
alluvial  valley,  gradually  rising  from  tlie  sea  to  the  foot  of 
the  mountains,  which  are  also  very  fertile  and  well  wooded, 
and  lay  convenient  for  cultivation.  This  valley  of  ievel  land 
is  internipied  in  two  places  by  mountainous  ridges,  which  ex- 
tend  down  toihe  sea,  one  iminediately  below  Puerto  de  Plata, 
the  otlicr  at  Point  Isabellique.  In  most  places  the  luxuriant 
growlh  of  timber  was  tJiickly  interspersed  wilh  the  elegant 
royal  palm,  and  covered  a  decp  soÜ  of  incomparable  richness 
and  feriiliiy,  mostJy  convenient  lo  water  power  for  machinery. 
That  part  of  the  island  formeily  Spaiwsh,  terminales  at  a 
Jñourishing  and  romantic  lillle  town  called  Laxavon,  which 
is  watered  by  tJie  river  Massacve.  This  river  foimed  ihc 
bonndary  Une  belvveea  the  formcr  Spanish  and  French  pos- 
sessions  of  St.  Domingo  ;  it  falls  into  the  sea  a  small  dislance 
easl  of  Fort  Danphin,  now  Fort  Libertié,  which  lies  fifteen 
miles  to  the  S.  W.,  and  is  a  very  exlensive  well  laid  out  town, 
conveniently  waiered  by  a  clear  river,  whicii  flows  partly 
around  it.  The  houses  are  elegantly  built  of  stone,  and 
covered  wiih  French  liles;  many  of  them,  however,  have 
Leen  taken  down  and  removed,  to  fnrnish  malcriáis  for  other 
buildings.  Its  hrrrbor  is  excellcnt,  and  superior,  I  believe, 
to  any  oiher  on  the  whole  island.  Here  begins  the  famous 
Plain  of  the  Cape,  36  miles  distant,  through  which  its  wide, 
Ievel,  and  well  laid  oiit  ruad,  bordered  wilh  high,  shady  log- 
wood  hcdges,  still  exists  :  in  some  parts  it  passed   over  pas- 


36  LETTERS    ON    HAITÍ. 

turage  or  prairie  Imds,  but,  generally,  the  massy  remains  of 
extensive  slone  bnildings  indicaied  ihe  valué  of  ihe  soil  of  its 
formcr  sugar  planlalions,  now  raoslly  grown  up  vvilh  woods. 
Maiiy  oíd  plantations  are  slill  more  or  less  under  Üie  culliva- 
tion  of  sugar,  but  ihe  extreme  scarciiy  of  hands  to  hire,  ren- 
ders  the  extensive  cullivation  of  that  staple  at  present  iin- 
praclicable. 

Passing  ihrongh  the  Aí^ery  rich  and  extensive  alluvial  plan- 
tations of  the  Grand  Riviere,  we  arrived  al  Cape  Haitien, 
abüul  nine  miles  distant  from  it.  This  City  (formerly  Cape 
Fran9ais,)  is  built  on  a  level  plain,  just  under  a  romaniic 
mouniain,  of  perbaps  2000  feet  high.  Tlie  great  extent  and 
magnificent  remains  of  eleganl  and  extensive  stone  bnildings 
indícale  its  former  weallh,  founded  upon  the  richness  and  ex- 
tent of  its  soil,  when  it  stood  the  peerless  Mistress  of  Ameri- 
can opulence.  It  seems  now  recovering  a  liille  its  importance, 
which  will  no  doubt  keep  pace  vvilh  the  present  increase  of 
populalion  and  cultivation  ihroughout  ihe  islanil. 

Excepiing  Salurdays  and  Sundays,  the  great  market  days, 
when  all  is  alive  with  well  dressed  good-looking  people,  few 
persons  are  to  be  se.;n  in  ihe  slreels.  This  is  ovving  lo  llie 
great  scarcity  of  domestic  servanls,  who  dan  ernploy  tiiem- 
selves  more  profilably  upon  their  own  lands,  liberally  bestow- 
ed  by  government,  whose  policy  it  is  to  discourage  all  nega- 
tive  and  unproductive  occupalions, 

I  will  now  cióse  ihis  lelier  by  a  few  observations  upon  the 
people  inhabiting  the  counlry  beiween  Puerto  de  Piala  and 
Cape  Haitien,  iheir  complexión,  moral  habiis,  &c.  In  that 
pan  formerly  Spanish,  that  language  is  slill  relained,  though 
ihe  French  is  generally  understood,  and  musí  soon  predomí- 
nale, as  ihe  law  requires  ihat  all  records  and  public  docu- 
menis  shall  be  kepi  in  French.  A  great  tendency  lo  while 
is  also  observable  in  the  complexions  of  ihe  people,  which 
seem  to  be  changing  very  fast  by  intermixiure  wiih  color. 
Soon  afler  crossing  ihe  river  Massacre,  the  French  language 
predomínales,  or  ralher  the  Creóle,  for  boih  are  spoken  and 
generally  understood,  The  complexions  of  ihe  inhabilanis, 
too,  are  generally  darker,  indicating  a  greaier  predominancy 
of  A  frican  blood,  bul  no  general  color  can  be  said  lo  charac- 
terize  any  seciion.  The  extremes  of  white  and  black,  when 
divesied  of  all  legal  preference  as  in  Haiti,  are  more  com- 
monly  found  in  conjugal  unión  than  olherwise,  and  as  no  dis- 
tinciive  predilection  of  color  has  yet  manifesled  ilself,  the 
nalional  complexión  is  coniinually  changing,  and  must  finally 
depend  upon  the  sources  of  populalion  from  whence  the  color 
Í8  derivad. 


LETTERS    ON    HAITÍ. 


37 


Ifoundno  tavern   or  pubüc  honse   on  ihe  whole  road— we 
lodfred    wherever   circnmslaiices  reiidered  it   most    convemeril 
lo  slop      Every   where    we  found   graUíilous    hospiiality    and 
welcome,  wiih  an   abundanl  supply   of  wliolesome  provisions, 
such  as  pork,   fowb,  honey,  coin,  cassava  bread,  and    dehcious 
planiains    and    fruií.       Tlie    lonesome    and   romannc    woods 
were  inlerspersed    vvith  small  fanns  of   one    family   eacli,  all 
livincT    in  careless    abundance,    and    full  of    heallhy    children. 
Sonie  of  ihe  towns  liad   a   n:iorc  fashionable  and   mihiary  ap- 
pearance,  and   it    seemed   lo  be   a  general    cusionciof  every 
Comniandant    lo  assume    ihe    prerogalive    right     of    offering 
hospiialily  lo  slrangers,  and  where  we  met,  nol  only  a  friend  y 
welcome,  bul   genleel  and   fashionable  accommodaiions.     No 
tale   of  robberv   or  personal   insult  could  be  heard  ot.      1  he 
houses  of  ihes¿  farms  are  of  ihe  mosl  simple  constrnclion,  wilh 
posls  of  durable  wood  sel  in  the  ground,  and  waulcd  or  enclosed 
wilh  palm-n-ee  clapboards,  and  generally  covered  wilh  ihe  same; 
Ihev  were  mosily  open,  so  as  lo  allow  a  free  circulaiion  of  ihe 
cool   breezes  of  ihis  healihy  climale.     I  neither  have  seen  ñor 
heard  of  one  instance  of  sickness  as  yet,  ñor  any  kmd  of  in- 
disposition,  in  my  whole  roule.     They  appear  lo  be  a  heallhy 
and  good-looking  people,  and  in  ihe  lowns  fashionable,  w.lh 
raanv  women  of  exccllenl  beauly.     I  could  d.scovcr  no  preju- 
dice'of  casie,  allhongh  whiies  seemed  raiher  lo  be  treated  ^/nh 
mosl  deference,  wh.ch  I  imputed  eilher  lo  iheir  bemg  consi- 
dered  as  more  helpless,  or  iheir  being  snpposed  lo  have  ihe  mosc 
monev  ;  bul  all  seemed  lo    mix  logeiher  equally  in    socie  y. 
whiclí  was  regulaied  by  ihe  condilions  of  ihe  individuáis  only. 
Mv  nexl  communication  wiU  probably  be  daied  from  Port- 
au-Prince,  and  wiU  coniain  such  new  raatier  as  may  grow  out 

of  furlher  observalion.  ,c  n     ju^ 

I  remain,  very  respeclluliy,  &c. 

LETTER  III. 

Port-au-Prince,   Oct.  I2th,  1835. 

Mr.  George  H.  Evans— 

Mvlasl  lelter  was  from  Cape  Hailien,  which  we  lefl  on 
horseback  for  Gonaives,  a  dislance  of  aboul  05  m.les  lo  ihe 
wcsiward  wilh  one  colored  a.lcndanl.  The  lirsi  parí  of  our 
way  was  up  llie  beauuful  vale  of  the  Cape  and  nver  Salee, 
Ihrough  ruiiis  of  exten.ive  masón  work.  and  oíd  plantafons, 
now  bul  lillle  cult.vaied.  The  road  ed  towards  the  con- 
"p  cuous   and   elevaicd   palace    and    village    of  Sans   Soucie, 


38  LETT..RS  ON   HAITÍ. 

siUiated  near  llie  top  of  a  well-cultivaled  mountain  on  our  left. 
Afler  leaviiig  tliis  plaiii,  and  ascending  a  modérale  eleva- 
lion,  vve  carne  in  siglu  of  ihe  iine  plain  and  harbor  of  Limbe, 
¡nto  wliich  a  beaniiful  river  of  ihe  same  ñame  falls,  up  ihe 
valley  of  the  soiith  branch  of  wliich,  wiih  many  crossings,  we 
ascended  lo  ihe  small  and  romaniic  valley  of  Cape  Coc,  sur- 
rounded  by  richly  wooded  hílls ;  l)ere  we  were  hospiíably  en- 
terlained  for  llie  night :  early  nexl  morning  we  conünued  our 
route  up  lilis  romaniic  valley,  ihickly  seilled  vviih  small  coífee 
farms  of  one  family  each  lo  ils  lop,  from  whicli  we  had  a 
very  inieresling  view  of  the  happy  vale  which  we  liad  just  as- 
cended ;  ihen  crossiiig  ibis  heiglil  of  land,  and  descending  a 
few  miles  wesierly,  lo  ihe  oiher  or  maiii  branch  of  ihe  Limbé 
river,  upon  which  is  siuialed  iha  lively  village  of  Plaisance, 
whose  heallhy  and  elevaled  siiualion,  wilh  its  ferlile  fields 
and  well-slored  gardens  of  fruit  and  vegelables,  afforded  an 
inleresting  piclure  of  subslaniial  plenly  amid  tropical  ease 
and  fecundity.  Leaviiig  this  valley  of  ihe  river,  we  ascend- 
ed another  elevaiion,  lo  the  height  of  land  al  the  escalero 
or  ladder,  down  which  we  descended  ihrough  a  grand  chasm 
composed  of  perpendicular  layers.of  limesione  rock  fringed 
wilh  calcareous  cryslals,  many  hundred  feet  in  height,  al  ihe 
foot  of  which  we  liad  a  view  of  the  river  and  very  extensive 
plain  of  the  Gonaives,  which  lay  before  us.  T.he  lown  is 
aboul  six  leagues  distant  from  ihis  place,  on  our  way  lo 
which,  we  again  saw  many  massy  remains  of  collón  and  sugar 
planlations,  whose  coslly  masón  work  indicaled  the  intrinsic 
valne  of  ihe  soil  for  the  cullivalion  of  which  they  had  been 
erected. 

We  arrivcd  at  ihe  lown  of  Gonaives  about  4  o'clock,  P.  M. 
It  is  slill  imporlanl,  and  derives  some  beneíil  from  its  salí  pond. 
The  fine  mahogany,  floaled  down  the  greal  river  of  Arlibonile, 
lying  a  few  miles  lo  the  soulhward,  loads  a  greal  many  vessels, 
and  conlributes  also  lo  ils  prosperily. 

The  small  coasler  in  which  we  were  crowded,  for  two  days 
and  tbree  nighls,  on  our  passage  from  (aonaives  to  Port-au- 
Prince,  along  wilh  a  good  many  Hailien  passengers  of  difler- 
cnl  shades  and  sexes,  bul  all  upon  an  eqnal  footing,  af- 
forded a  good  opporlunity  for  displaying  the  manners  and 
esiimaling  ihe  degree  of  civilizalion  ailained  by  this  new 
pcople,  of  whom  the  female  part  seemed  perfeclly  at  their 
ease,  and  full  of  laughier  and  good  humor.  The  male  part 
was  more  musical,  and  oflen,  in  the  inlervals  belween  sto- 
ries  of  wars  and  ballles,  in  which  ihey  had  liad  an  opportunily 


l-EITERS   ON   HAITÍ.  39 

of  showing  their  prowess,  (for  all  llie  Haitiens  are  soldiers)  ex- 
ercised  llieir  iine  voices  in  singing  favorile  airs  in  good  lasle, 
and  some  national  songs  wiih  greal  melody  and  effect.  I 
heard  nolhing  like  vulgarily  or  abusive  language  ainongst 
ihem. 

On  the  mil  Oct.,  we  lancíed  al  Port-au-Prince,  which  be- 
ing  ihe  seat  of  Government,  is  considered  ihcí  capiíal  of  Haili, 
and  being  Sunday,  llieir  grcat  market  and  parade  day,  made 
it  a  novel  sighl  for  a  siratiger  froni  the  American  Slates, 
The  superabundant  variely  of  provisions  of  every  description' 
for  the  supply  of  ihe  ensuing  week,  broughl  in  profusión  by 
great  numbers  of  small  crafr.,  and  innumerable  iiorse  and 
jackass  loads  of  all  kinds  of  tropical  fruit  and  country  pro- 
duce, chiefly  conducled  by  women,  mixed  wiih  sotne  good-- 
looking  men,  all  of  whom  vvere  coloured,  whose  dark  and  ro- 
busl  arms,  conlrasled  wiih  their  clean  and  snovv-white  cloihes 
of  tlie  females,  all  full  of  gayely  and  gocd  heallh,  gave  no 
unfavorable  idea  of  the  happy  circumslances  and  substantial 
prosperiiy  of  this  agricuhural  communiíy.  I  vviU  lake  this 
opporUinily  to  say,  tliat  1  have  never  before,  in  any  country, 
seen  such  general  indicalions  of  personal  cleanlincss  and  tasle 
in  dress,  as  I  have  observed  among  ihese  Haiiien  women, 
amongst  whom,  ihe  easiern  customs  of  ablulion,  handed  down 
from  their  African  anceslors,  are  religiously  observed  ;  ñor  do 
I  ihink  thai  thcre  is  any  civilized  country  now  known  lo  us, 
where  substantial  freedom  and  happiness,  unalloyed  by  licen- 
tiousness,  or  any  dread  of  injury  to  person  or  property,  are 
enjoyed  to  ihe  same  exlcnl  as  in  Haili  ;  íor,  wheihcr  yon  reside 
in  the  tovvns,  or  iravel  alone  through  ihe  couniry  or  over  the 
mounlains,  by  night  or  by  day  ;  wliether  you  are  armed  or 
unarmed,  while  or  black,  on  fool  or  on  .horseback,  loaded  vviih 
doubloons  or  with  sour  oranges,  you  are  equally  safe  from 
injury.  I  can  hcar  of  no  inslance  of  exception.  1  must  now 
have  travelled  by  land  more  than  300  nules  ihrongh  the  in- 
terior, and  mosily  in  company  wiih  a  genlcel  drcssed  man  of 
color;  and  I  nalurally  expected  that  a  white  person,  and 
especially  a  stranger  from  the  United  States,  would  experience, 
from  the  lowcr  ordcr  of  peoplc  al  least,  vvho  were  all  colored 
or  black,  and  living  under  a  colored  government,  some  small 
slight  or  sign  of  neglect,  or  have  his  feelings  in  some  way 
insullcd  by  their  resentment,  for  I  nalurally  felt  conscious  of 
ihe  persecution  and  open  war  now  carrying  on  against  them 
inlhe  United  States,  which  I  had  just  left ;  bul  I  musí  confess 
ihal  I  felt  humbled  and  ashamed  at  the  undeserTed  respect  and 


40  LETTE«S  ON  HAITÍ. 

deference  with  which  1,  as  a  while  man,  was  every  where 
Irealed  and  received. 

Oct.  17, — Tliis  day  I  had  a  long  and  familiar  interview 
uiih  President.  Boyer,  who  is  a  very  inielligenl  and  sensible 
man,  and  I  ihink  of  great  inlegrily  and  painotism.  He  is  of 
ihe  middle  size  and  ralher  dark  complexión ;  his  manners 
are  easy  and  polite  ;  inany  of  his  generáis  and  miliiary  offi- 
cers  vvere  near  his  person,  and,  being  Sunday,  seven  regi- 
menls  of  regular  iroops,  besides  some  cavalry,  wiih  fine  music, 
were  reviewed  on  a  very  exiensive  and  even  parade  ground 
behind  the  Government  House  ;  this  is  a  part  of  33  regiments 
of  regular  infanlry  and  one  regiment  of  Cavalry,  besides  4 
regiments  of  arlillery,  &c.,  all  paid  by  governmenl,  now  com- 
posing  the  standing  army  of  this  island ;  but  while  vve  admire 
the  officers,  men,  their  clothing,  arms,  and  discipline,  &c., 
all  excellent  in  a  miliiary  point  of  view,  we  cannot  help  re- 
grellingthe  cause  of  this  display  of  miliiary  pomp  and  expense 
in  a  time  of  peace,  caused,  it  is  said,  by  the  fear  of  enemies 
from  without :  but  as  this  danger  seems  gradually  subsidmg, 
while  the  agricullural  capital  and  populalion  of  the  island  are 
rapidly  increasing,  in  a  short  time  it  is  probable  that  the 
standing  army,  now  said  lo  be  diminishing,  will  be  reduced  to 
the  actual  wanls  and  iniernal  circumstances  of  the  government. 
The  navy  is  small,  and  consists  of  a  few  vessels  of  war  and 
revenne  cutters,  merely  to  assist  in  the  transportalion  of 
government  stores,  and  the  proteclion  of  the  revenue.  The 
mililia  troops  are  well  armed  and  all  mustered  in  uniform  once 
every  three  monlhs  ;  they  consist  of  one  hundred  thousand 
eífective  men,  but  as  their  musier  takes  place  on  Sunday,  and 
in  the  parishes  where  they  reside,  no  time  is  lost  by  their 
miliiary  parade, 

The  ciiy  of  Port-au-Prince  has  an  excellent  harbor;  it  is 
moslly  built  of  wood,  and  situated  on  a  regular  declivity, 
having  high  land  aback,  whose  springs  and  rivulets  supply  ils 
numerous  fountains  with  abundance  of  excellent  water ; 
ihe  lowermost  fountain,  which  is  built  out  in  the  harbor, 
where  the  water  is  of  sufficient  depth,  supplies  the  vessels 
with  water  without  unloading  ihe  casks,  Its  streets  are  broad 
and  regularly  laid  out  with  side  walks,  moslly  uhder  cover  of 
plazas,  where  many  well-dressed  females  sit  and  enjoy  the 
cool  breeze  before  their  numerous  shops  of  various  wares, 
for  the  supply  of  customers.  There  are  three  large  market 
squares,  embellished  with  fountains,  &c.,  and  the  streets  near 
.the  harbor,  whexe  the  custom-house  is,  indicates  a  good   dea] 


LETTERS  ON  HAITÍ.  41 

of  commercial  buslle,  by  the  discharging  of  numerous  coast- 
ers,  and  loading  and  unloading  of  15  or  20  foreigii  square 
rigged  vessels,  wliich  usually  are  secn  in  porl  at  ihc  same 
time.  I  have  heard  of  no  lale  census  of  the  populaüon  of 
Haiti,  but  the  general  eslimale  of  inhabitaiiis  is  abovit  one 
million,  and  it  certainly  is  increasing  most  rapidly.  The 
exlraordinary  fertihly  of  its  soil,  fiued  for  all  sorts  of  produce; 
the  convenient  lemperature  of  ils  climate,  which,  al  the  sea 
side  in  summer,  generally  rangos  from  SC^  lo  S0°,  and  in 
the  interior  betwcen  75^^  and  85'^  Fahrenheit ;  (in  winler  it  is 
ten  degrees  lovver  ;)  ils  exlreme  salubiity,  ils  convenienl  silua- 
lion  for  commerce,  bolh  as  relates  lo  Europe  and  to  Norlh 
and  ¡áoiith  America,  logelher  wilh  all  the  West  India  Islands ; 
ils  numerous  and  spacious  ports  and  harbors,  caiinot  fail, 
under  ils  prescnl  free  and  wcU  organized  govcrnment:,  of 
bringing  it,  in  a  few  years,  lo  a  stale  of  cnviablc  prosperily  ; 
lo  say  ihai  riches  would  increasc  its  happiness,  would  be  con- 
Irary  lo  human  experience,  for  I  doubi  wiieiher  in  the  known 
world  another  example  of  a  counlry  of  such  exlcnt  can  be 
foimd,  vvhere  ihere  is  so  liille  crime,  and  so  lillle  human  suf- 
fering  as  now  exisls  within  ihe  Island  of  Haili,  which  cxults 
in  freedom  and  plenly  ;  and  it  would  be  flaltering  lo  humanily 
to  see  it  prosper,  afler  sacvificing  so  many  lives,  and  fighting 
its  way  ihrough  such  exlraordinary  obslacles,  lo  liberly  and. 
indepcndence,  which  il  now  tcmpcralely  cnjoys,  without  abuse 
or  licenliousness. 

Oct.  26. — As  I  have  now  been  travclling  in  ihis  Island  for 
two  monlhs,  and  sludying  the  theory  of  its  siluation,  I  will, 
by  way  of  closing  my  remarks,  give  you  the  following  abre- 
vialed  view  of  my  information. 

The  Island  of  Haili  is  aboul  ISOloagues  in  lenglh,  from 
east  to  wesl,  ils  norlh  sidc  leis  in  20°  norlh  lalitude,  ihe  sea 
coast  generally  is  low,  the  soil  exlrenicly  rich,  but  rising  gra- 
dually  for  several  leagues  inland,  becomes  more  sleep,  and 
terminales  in  mountains  richly  wooded  to  ihe  top.  These,  by 
arresling  the  clouds,  and  rain,  give  rise  lo  numerous  rivers, 
which,  after  irrigating  ihose  rich  plains  below,  fall  into  the 
surrounding  ocean.  These  ridges  of  mountains  are  of  great 
extent,  from  east  lo  wesl ;  ihe  central  rangos  bcing  from  5 
to  7000  feet  high,  are  inlcrseclcd,  lenglhwise,  l)y  wide  val- 
leys  of  rich  land  and  exlensive  paslnrages  belween  ihem, 
walered  by  large  and  rapid  rivers,  convenient  for  floating 
down  mahogany,  and  other  produce,  four  of  which,  especially, 
after  runninc   longiludinally   for  pcvcral   lumdred  miles  earh, 

6 


42  J,ETTERS  OS  HAITÍ. 

* 

between  those  diífercnt  ranges  of  moimtains,  and  intersecíing 
ihe  streams  of  the  whole  interior  fall  into  ihe  sea  al  four  oppo- 
site  parts  of  the  island. 

Ovving  to  the  great  extent  of  this  island,  and  the  ■vvant  of 
capital,  the  price  of  lands  is  extremely  low,  and  many  superb 
and  costly  oíd  plantations,  with  all  their  improvements  and 
imperishable  buildings  of  brick  and  slone,  together  with  their 
valuable  mili  streams  and  water  privileges  convenient  to 
towns,  are  to  be  purchased  for  a  small  part  of  what  the  im- 
provements alone  would  cost.  No  country,  perhaps,  in  the 
world  is  so  little  annoyed  with  noxious  animáis  or  insects  ; 
very  few  flies  or  musquetoes  ;  very  few  birds  of  prey ;  no  wild 
carnivorous  animal  bigger  than  a  rat,  ñor  any  venomous  snake 
or  reptile,  is  to  be  found  upon  it. 

In  short,  it  is  a  most  salubrious  place  of  residence,  and  of- 
fers  every  variety  of  climate,  and  I  can  see  no  opposing  cir- 
cumstances  to  the  immediate  development  of  the  natural  power 
and  weallh  of  Haiii  but  its  want  of  capital,  the  introdiiction 
of  which  mnst  depend  upon  the  policy  of  ils  government, 
which,  from  every  appearance,'1s  now  fast  approaching  towards 
the  accomplishment  of  that  object. 

LETTER  IV. 

New  York,   13/A  Aot;.,  1835. 
Mr.  George  H.  Evans  : 

Dear  Sir — I  here  endose  sundry  interrogatories  pnt  to 
the  President  of  Haití,  with  his  answers  thereto.  I  wrote 
three  letters  to  you  from  Haiti,  one  from  Puerto  de  Plato,  one 
from  Cape  Haitien,  and  one  from  Port-au-Prinr,e,  and  now, 
ihese  interrogatories.  I  remain,  &c. 

Translatiojí  of  a  letter  from  the  Secretary  General  oflhe  Re- 
public  of  Haiti,  to  a  vilizen  of  the  United  l^íates,  in  answer 
to  a  If.tter  to  his  EocccUency  Jean  P.  Borier,  President  of 
that  Republic,  requiring  inforrnation  upon  the  suhject  of  emi- 
grants  Jrom  the  United  States. 

Sir — His  Excellency,  the  President  of  Haiti,  orders  me  ta 
answer  the  questions  contained  in  two  letters,.  which  you  ad- 
dressed  to  him  on  the  15th  of  this  month  of  October,  lb35, 
regarding  the  introduction  into  this  republic  of  some  people 
of  African  descent,  who  propose  emigrating  from  the  United 
States  of  America,  where  they  now  inhabit. 

On  purpose  that  the  answers  may  reply  fully  to  the  ques- 
tions, 1  shall,  Sir,  arrange  the  translations  of  these  questions  in 
the  same  order  as  you  have  placed  ihem. 


LETTEUS   ÜN  HAITÍ.  43 

\&t  Ques.  For  how  Icng  a  period  of  time,  and  upon  what  con- 
ditioDS,  could  such  einigrants  contract  with  their  servants 
abroad,  as  mcclmnics  or  agriculiural  laborers  in  Haiti,  so  that 
such  contract s  riiay  be  held  legal,  and  gnaranteed  by  the  Haiti- 
en  Governmenl,  aí'ler  the  arrival  of  llie  parties  in  Haili,  and 
how  many  woiking  days  in  each  vveek,  and  liow  many  working 
hours  each  day,  would  be  held  legal  in  said  contract  ? 

Ans.  To  answer  your  first  question,  Sir,  í  refer  you  to  the 
Law  No.  3,  pago  1 1,  of  the  Rural  Code  of  Haiti,  of  which  I 
now  send  yon  a  copy,  and  to  legalizo  any  contract  passed  in 
a  forcign  country  between  the  ernigrant  and  his  servant,  it 
will  be  snfficient  ihat  they  appear,  upon  their  arrival  in  Haiti, 
beforc  a  Justice  of  Feace,  and  that  ihey  rautually  declare  that 
the  clauses  set  foith  in  the  contract  have  been  conscnted  to 
of  their  ovvn  free  will ;  and  that  the  parlies  are  mutually  will- 
ing  to  execiite  them  according  to  their  form  and  tenor.  All 
legal  acts  can  be  executed  by  virlue  of  the  laws  of  the  Re- 
public. 

2;/  Qnes.  At  what  age  could  hired  servants  enter  into  such 
contraéis  in  their  own  behalf,  and  for  how  many  years  after- 
ward,  and  what  would  be  considered  as  a  reasonable  com- 
pensation  or  gratuity  over  and  above  such  services  ? 

/1/Í5.  To  the  second  question  I  answer  that  the  fixed  age  af 
majorily  is  21  years,  or  that  of  -emancipalion,  which  are 
clearly  established  in  our  civil  code — they  give  the  right  to 
onr  cilizens,  or  to  those  who  are  constitulionally  enabled  to 
beconie  such,  lo  contract  in  their  ovvn  proper  ñame  and  be- 
half, and  the  arlicle  46  of  ihe  Rural  Code  fixes  the  duration  of 
the  lime  for  which  they  can  cop.iracl,  wheiher  as  agricullur- 
alii?'.s  or  mechanics.* 

3(¿  Ques.'  By  what  authority  could  children  under  age  b« 
bound,  and  until  what  age  would  such  agriculiural  apprentice- 
ship  be  binding  in  Haiti,  upon  those  apprentices,  so  as  to  in- 
derntufy  llie  emigrants  for  the  passages,  losses,  ácc? 

Ans.  To  the  3d  question  í  answer,  that  the  falhers  and 
moiheis,  and,  in  their  absence,  the  parents  in  direct  line,  and 
in  their  absen  e,  the  guardians  or  lutors,  can  contract  for  such 
minors,  and  bind  tliem  until  the  age  of  majorily  or  21  years. 

4th  Ques.  Would  ihe  governmenl  of  Haili  be  disposed  to 
graní  lands  to  such  emigrants  near  a  landing  on  ihe  coast,  where 
and  how  much  ? 

Ans.     I  answer  lo   ihe  'íih   question,  that  since  ihe   Ist  of 

■*  The  extent  is  9  }'pars— nt  15  ypars  the)'  can  contract  throiigh  ihe  .ict  of  their 
piu-ents  or  ([guardians  for  9  years,  and  in  the  same  way  children  may  be  bound 
tin'il  'il  ycni.  A  note  or  bond  in::y  bo  taJiín  íroni  the  party  aa  a  furth«r  «•- 
#Tjnn'  {nr  th*   fulfilmont  o(  mch  cnntmrt».- 


44  LETTBRS    ON    HAITÍ. 

May,  1820,  the  lavv  has  put  an  end  to  gratuitoiis  commissions 
of  lands  which  composed  a  part  of  tlie  piiblic  domain ;  but 
ihat  the  government  of  Haili  iiow  renls  or  causes  lo  be  sold, 
such  lands  as  belong  to  the  Siale,  so  thal  such  eniigrants  as 
have  a  right  to  become  Haitiens,  according  to  arlicle  44  of  llie 
Constiluüon,  may  either  rent  or  purchase  such  lands  as  ihey 
wish,  wiiether  it  be  from  the  Republic,  or  from  the  individuáis 
who  possess  them. 

5th  Ques.  Wüuld  any  dulies  of  innportalion  be  charged  by 
government  upon  such  properly  belonging  to  emigrants,  as 
was  not  for  sale,  but  nierely  iniended  for  the  agiicullural  or  do- 
mestic  purposes  of  such  emigrants  ? 

A/is.  To  answer  the  5lh  question,  I  will  say  lo  you,  ihat 
no  duly  of  importation  or  enlry  will  be  imposed  upon  the 
moveable  properly  of  emigrants  iniended  for  their  own  use,  or 
for  their  agricultural  pursuiís,  or  for  the  exercise  of  their  me- 
chanical  professions. 

Qth  Ques.  Would  colored*  emigrants  be  allowed  to  purchase 
land  and  lócate  themselves  any  where  wilhin  the  Island  of  Hai'ti? 

Ans.  The  question  pul  by  the  6th  arlicle  will  be  answered 
by  that  given  to  ihe  4lh  arlicle.  The  descendanls  of  African 
emigrants  may  lócale  themselves  wilhin  ihe  Republic,  any 
where  ihey  may  judge  most  suitable  lo  iheir  inieresls,  and 
may  hold  real  properly  when,  after  one  year's  residence  in 
Haili,  ihey  become  cilizens  of  the  Republic. 

7th  Ques.  How  long  a  time  would  emigrants  be  allowed  to 
go  or  come  as  foreigners  before  they  were  Hable  to  the  duties 
and  constraints  of  cilizens  ? 

Ajis.  I  answer  the  7lh  question,  that  entrance  into  the  Re- 
public being  free,  to  every  one  who  will  submit  to  the  laws, 
the  Africans  or  their  descendanls  who  intend  lo  emigrate  may 
go  and  come  freely,  in  doing  their  business,  as  foreigners,  but 
from  the  lime  they  may  determine  to  remain  wilhin  the  lie- 
public,  they  ought  to  conform  themselves  to  the  14th  article  of 
the  civil  code,  for  ihe  security  of  their  future  righls. 

Sth  Ques.  Would  government  be  disposed  lo  grant  a  license 
to  a  foreign  vessel  to  enler  or  anchor  in  any  hay  or  harbor  on  ihe 
norih  side  of  ihis  island,  under  the  direclion  of  a  colored  emi- 
graní,  for  the  purpose  of  examining  lands,  and  choosing  a  place 
for  setUement  ? 

Ans.  In  answer  to  the  eighth  question,  I  am  ordered  to  tell 
you,  that  instructions  will  be  sent  to  the  military  authorities  all 
round  the  shores,  on  the  northeast  side  of  the  Republic,  to  per- 
nnit  emigrants  for   Haili  to  land,  to  visitthe  country  and  to  ex- 

*  The  word  coloured  means  every  person  not  white. 


LETTERS    ON    II.VITI.  45 

amine  snch  land  sas  may  appear  snitable  fnr  their  pnrposcs,  and 
to  seiile  upon  lliem,  according  to  ihe  arrangcments  which  they 
may  make  with  their  several  proprielors. 

9th  Qucs.  Wüuld  apprenticcs,  inirod\iced  inlo  Haití  as  be- 
fore  meniioned,  be  liable  lo  the  same  niilitary  duiies  as  otlier 
free  emigrants,  wlio  liad  contracied  no  obligalion  of  labor  be- 
fore  their  introduclion? — Wkat  wonld  be  the  diities  of  bolh  ? 
or  either  ? — Conld  eilher  of  them  be  forced  into  ihe  regular  ar- 
niy  withoui  their  own  consent? 

Ans.  Finally,  sir,  to  answer  your  9ih  question,  I  am  ordered 
to  tell  you,  that  neilher  the  emigrants  ñor  any  person  of  Afri- 
can  descent,  whom  they  may  brmg  along  with  them  to  worU, 
wheiher  as  mechanics  or  cuhivators,  will  be  in  any  manncr 
required  or  held  liable  lo  do  military  dnty  as  regular  soldiers 
of  the  Republic.  Wiih  regard  to  the  proprielors,  after  one 
year's  residence,  they  will  be  considered  as  forming  a  parí  of 
the  Miliiia  in  the  district  where  they  reside.  I  ought  to  ob- 
serve to  vou  that  the  National  Guards,  or  Militia,  is  liable  to  no 
other  service  bul  such  as  is  mentioned  in  the  law,  of  which  I 
now  send  you  a  copy,  and  which  consists  in  a  simple  muster 
every  ihree  monihs,  on  purpose  to  inspecl  the  staie  of  ihe 
arms,  with  which  every  citizen  ought  to  be  provided,  for  the  se- 
curity  of  his  liberties,  and  lo  mainlain  the  independence  of  his 
country.  Signed  B.  INGENAC. 


HAITÍ. 

We  copy  the  following  from  the  Christian  Slatesman  :  The 
editor  says,  it  "  is  from  a  very  intclligent  source,  and  will  be  in- 
teresling  to  all  who  desire  the  prosperity  of  that  island." 

Washington,  June  30,  1837, 
To  the  Editor  of  the  Christian  Slatesman  : 

Sir, — Your  being  one  of  the  principal  members  of  the  Afri- 
can  Colonization  Society,  an  inslilution  purely  philanthropic, 
and  whose  object  apparently  is  lo  advance  the  deprcssed  free 
people  of  color  to  a  higher  grade  in  the  scale  of  civilization  ; 
and  as  I  am  a  planter  in  the  South,  deriving  my  cntire  subsist- 
ence  from  slave  labor,  but  having  a  colorcd  family  and  child- 
ren,  motives  ofnecessity  and  self-preservation  havc  induced  me 
to  labor  for  a  similar  object  to  yours,  in  which  I  have  been 
employed  for  some  time  past;  therefore,  as  wisdom  is  most 
certaiñly  altained  from  comparing  the  facts  proved  by  experi- 
ment,  I  thought  that  it  would  be  inleresting  to  you  and  to  niany 
of  your  readers,  to  be  informed  of  the  result  of  my  Colonization 
experimenls,  made  in  the  Island  of  Haiti,  the  convcnient  sitúa- 


4()  LETTERS    ON   HAITÍ. 

tion  of  which  and  its  nearness  to  tlie  place  where  the  emigrants 
livecl,  induced  me  to  give  it  a  preferenc^.  A  full  account  of 
ihese  experimcnts  follows,  and  iheir  importance  may  excuse  the 
lenglh  of  ihis  communication. 

About  eighteen  months  ago,  I  carried  out  my  son  George 
Kingsley,  a  healthy  colored  man  of  uncorrupted  moráis,  about 
thirty  years  of  age,  tolerably  well  ediicatcd,  of  very  industrious 
habits,  and  a  native  of  Florida,  togelher  with  six  prime  A  frican 
men,  my  own  si  aves,  liberated  for  ihat  express  purpose,  to  the 
northeast  side  of  the  island  of  Haiti,  near  Porte  Píate,  where  we 
arrived  in  the  month  of  Oclober,  1836,  and  after  application  to 
the  local  authoritics,  from  whom  I  rented  some  good  land  near 
the  sea,  and  thickly.tímbered  with  lofty  woods,  í  set  ihem  to 
work  cutting  down  trees  about  the  middle  of  November,  and 
returned  home  to  Florida.  My  son  wrote  to  us  frequently, 
giving  an  account  of  his  progress.  Some  of  the  fallen  timber 
was  dry  enough  to  burn  off  in  January,  1837,  when  it  was 
cleared  np,  and  eight  acres  of  corn  planted,  and  as  soon  as  cir- 
cumstances  would  allow,  sweet  potatoes,  yaras,  cassava,  rice, 
beans,  peas,  plantains,  oranges,  and  all  soits  of  fruit-trees,  were 
planted  in  succession.  In  the  month  of  October,  1837,  I  again 
set  off  for  Haiti,  in  a  coppered  brig  of  150  tons,  bought  for  the 
purpose,  and  in  five  days  and  a  half,  from  St.  Mary's  in  Geor- 
gia, landcd  my  son's  vvife  and  children  at  Porte  Píate,  together 
with  the  wives  and  children  of  his  servants,  now  working  for 
him  under  an  indenture  of  nine  years;  also  two  additional  fami- 
lias of  my  slaves,  all  liberated  for  the  express  purpose  of  trans- 
portation  to  Haiti,  where  tliey  were  all  to  have  as  much  good 
land  in  fee,  as  they  could  cultívate,  say  ten  acres  for  each  fami- 
ly,  and  all  its  proceeds,  together  with  one-fourth  partofthe  nett 
proceeds  of  thcir  labour  on  my  son's  farm,  for  themselves  ;  also 
victuals,  clothes,  medical  attendance,  &c.,  gratis,  besides  Sa- 
turdays  and  ¡Sundays,  as  days  of  labour  for  themselves,  or  of 
rest,  just  at  their  option.  ' 

On  my  arrival  at  my  son's  place,  called  Cabaret  (twcnty- 
seven  miles  east  of  Porte  Píate)  in  November,  1837,  as  before 
statcd,  I  found  every  thing  in  the  most  flattering  and  prosper- 
oijs  condilion.  They  had  all.enjoyed  good  health,  were  over- 
ílúwing  with  the  mostdelicious  variety  and  abundance  of  fruits 
and  provisions,  and  were  overjoyed  at  again  meeting  their  wives 
and  children,  whom  they  could  introduce  into  good  comfovtable 
log  houscs  allnicely  white-washed,  and  in  the  midst  of  a  pro- 
fuse  abundance  of  good  provisions,  as  they  had  generally  clear- 
ed fíve  or  six  acres  of  land  each,  which  being  very  rich,  and 
planted    with   every  variety   to  eat  or  to   sell,  they  had  be- 


LETTERS  ON   HAITÍ.  47 

Come  traders  in  rice,'corn,  potatoes,  sugarcane,  fowls,  peas,bedns, 
iu  shori  every  thing  lo  sel  I  on  their  ovvn  account,  and  had  already 
laid  up  ihirty  or  forty  dollars  apiece.  My  son's  l'arm  was  upon 
a  larger  scale,  and  í'urnislied  wiih  more  commodious  dwelling 
houses,  also,  with  store  and  oul  houses.  In  nine  monllis  he  had 
made  and  houscd  tliree  crops  of  corn  of  Ivvenly-five  bushels  to 
the  acre,  each,  or  one  crop  every  ihrce  months.  His  high  land 
rice,  which  was  equal  to  any  in  CaroHna,  so  ripe  and  lieavy  as 
some  of  it  to  be  couched  or  leaned  dovvn,  and  no  bird  had  ever 
troubled  it,  ñor  had  any  of  the  fields  ever  bcen  hoed,  there  be- 
ing  as  yet  no  appearance  of  grass.  His  cotlon  was  of  an  excel- 
lent  staple ,'  in  sevenmonihs  it  h;id  attained  the  height  of  fif- 
teen  feet  ;  the  stalks  vvere  ten  inches  in  circumference,  and  had 
upvvards  of  five  hundred  large  boles  on  each  slalk,  not  a  worm 
or  red  bugas  yet  to  be  secn.)  His  yams,  cassava,  and  sweet 
potatoes,  were  incredibly  large,  and  plentifully  thick  in  the 
ground  ;  one  kind  of  sweei.  potato,  lately  introduced  from  Ta- 
heita  (formerly  Otalieita)  Island  in  the  Paciñc  was  of  peculiar 
excellonce  ;  it  tasted  like  new  flour,  and  grew  to  an  ordinary 
size  in  one  month.  Thosc  1  eat  my  at  son's  had  been  planted 
ñve  wceks,  and  were  as  big  as  our  full-grown  Florida  potatoes». 
His  sweet  orange  trees  budded  upon  wild  stalks  cutoff,  (which 
every  wliere  abound)  about  six  months  before,  had  large  tops, 
and  the  buds  were  swelling  as  if  preparing  to  flower.  My  son 
reported  that  his  people  had  all  enjoyed  excellent  healtli,  a^d  had 
labored  jiist  as  sleadily  as  ihey  formerly  did  in  Florida,  and  wcrc 
well  satisfied  wilh  their  situation,  and  the  advantageous  exchange 
of  circumstances  ihey  had  made.  'I  hey  all  enjoyed  the  fiiendship 
of  the  neighboring  inhabitants,  and  the  cntire  confidence  of  the 
Haítian  government. 

I  remained  with  my  son  all  January,  1^38,  and  assisted  him 
in  making  improvements  of  different  kinds,  amongst  which  was 
a  new  two  story  house,  and  then  lefl  him  lo  go  to  I'ort-au-Prince 
where  I  obtained  a  favorable  answer  from  the  President  oí 
Haíti,  to  his  petilion,  asking  for  leave  to  own  in  fee  simple,  the 
same  tract  of  land  upon  which  he  then  livcd  as  a  tenant,  paying 
rent  to  tlidfaítien  (íovcrnment,  which  was  ordered  to  be  sur- 
veyed  to  him,  and  vaUícd,  and  not  expected  to  exceed  the  sum 
of  ihree  thousand  dollars.  After  obtaining  ihis  land  in  fee  for 
my  son,  reiurncd  to  Florida  in  February,  1838. 

As  France  has  now  conscnted  to  the  independencc  of  Haiti, 
to  which  ii  has  formally  relinqiiishcd  all  its  claims,  I  will  say  a 
fevv  words,  in  answer  to  some  objcclioiis  which  I  have  heard 
jnade  by  very-prudent  people,  to  the  policy  of  encouraging  the 
growth  and  civilizalion  of  ihe  Island  of  Haili^  which  objections^ 


4B  LETTERS  UN  ilAITh 

I  presume,  originalcd  in  the  fear  of  having  a  free  colored  Go- 
vernment and  puwerful  peoT)le,  so  near  our  own  slaveholding 
States.  It  this  evil  of  situalion,  arising  from  a  natural  cause, 
could  be  obviated,  it  certaiñly  would  be  prudent  lo  remove  it. 
But  as  Haiti  enjoys  so  many  permanent  natural  advantages 
over  any  cqual  poition  of  our  neighboring  continent,  eitlier  as  it 
relates  to  climale,  soil,  or  situalion,  moreover  its  great  extent 
and  exliaordinary  fertility  render  it  capable  of  supporting  apo- 
jndation,  of  at  least  fourteen  millions  of  peoplc,  which,  indepen- 
denl  of  all  our  eíforts  to  the  contrary,  will  fiU  up  by  natural  in- 
crease  in  a  few  years,  would  it  not  be  our  besi  policy  to  culti- 
vate  a  friendly  understanding  with  a  formidable  peopl'e,  improve 
iheir  moral  habits,  and  advance  tlieir  civilization  as  fast  as  lies 
in  our  power  ?  Haiii  was  formerly  the  commercial  emporium 
of  the  wesiern  world ;  it  supplied  both  hemispheres  with  sugar 
and  cofFee  ;  it  is  now  recovering  fast  from  a  state.  of  anarchy 
and  destitution,  brought  on  by  ihe  French  Kevolution.  Its  Go- 
vernment stands  on  a  xcry  respectable  footing,  and  it  onl}^  re- 
quires  capital  and  educalion,  to  become  a  country  of  great  com- 
mercial imporlance,  and  able  to  supply  the  whole  consumplion 
of  the  United  States  with  sugar  and  coffee.  The  European 
nations  are  now  taking  advantage  of  this  state  of  things,  and  are 
cultivatinga  friendly  commercial  intercourse  with  Haiti.  Is  it 
not  our  best  policy  to  profit  by  the  natural  advantages  which  we 
have  overthem,  arising  from  circumsiances  peculiar  to  our  situ- 
alion, and  encourage  as  fast  as  possible  the  industrious  and  raost 
respectable  parí  of  our  free  colored  population,  especially  the 
agricultural  part,  lo  emigrate  to  that  country,  now  mostly  va- 
cant,  which  is  within  a  week's  sail  of  our  own  coast  ?  The  natural 
attachmentof  those  emigranls  towards  the  country  of  their  birth 
would  greatly  help  to  promole  harmony  and  good  will  by  an 
assimilation  of  manners,  customs,  and  language,  tending  to 
strengthen  the  chain  of  commercial  relations  much  to  our  ad- 
vantage. 

Finally,  sir,  I  have  to  observe,  that  if  any  colored  people  of 
the  above  description  should  apply  to  you  for  further  information 
regarding  Haiti,  you  may  assure  ihem  of  a  good  reception  at 
George  Kingsley's  estabíishment  near  Porte  ríate,  where  ihey 
will  find  plenty  of  good  land  lo  cultivale,  which  ihey  may 
either  rent  or  buy  upon  the  most  liberal  terms  ;  and  that  six 
months'  labor  as  agriculturists,  will  render  ihem  entirely  inde- 
pendent  of  all  future  want  of  provisión.  You  may  also  assure 
thcm  of  Haiti's  being  comparatively  a  much  heal I hier  country 
than  any  of  our  seaboard  counlries  south  of  New- York. 

I  remain,  very  respectfuliy,  your  moet  obedient, 

Z.  KiNGSLEY,  a  Floñcla  Plantar. 


11138 


